Chiao-Yun Chen1,2, Twei-Shiun Jaw1,3,
Hua-Lin Wu4, Guey-Yueh Shi4, Yun-Ming Wang5,
Gin-Chung Liu1,2, Yu-Ting Kuo1,2
1Department of Medical
Imaging, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; 2Department
of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical
University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; 3 Department of Radiology, Faculty
of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung,
Taiwan; 4Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology,
College of Medicine & Cardiovascular Research Cancer, National Cheng Kung
Univerisity, Taiwan; 5Department of Biological Science &
Technology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
We have successfully synthesized and characterized a novel gadolinium-based MR contrast agent, Gd-NBCB-TTDA-MMP-2, formed of a peptide with a high affinity for MMP-2 .Our study demonstrated that Gd-NBCB-TTDA-MMP-2 can be a useful MR contrast agent for in vivo detection of MMP-2 activity in atherosclerosis at a molecular pathologic level. Because evaluation of the MMP-2 content and activity may aid in the prediction of the vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques to rupture and thrombosis, using Gd-NBCB-TTDA-MMP-2 enhanced MR imaging to assess MMP-2 activity may allow identification of unstable plaques and contribute substantially to preclinical and clinical evaluation of atherosclerosis.