in vivo Imaging T Cells in the Rheumatoid Arthritis with Nano-Sized Iron Oxide Particles by MRI

Chih-Lung Chen¹, Cheng-Hung Chou², Chen-Hsuan Lin¹, Wen-Yuan Hsieh¹, Shian-Jy Wang¹, Chen Chang²

The activation of T-cells correlates with the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Understanding the genesis, migration, and distribution of the T-cells provides important perspectives regarding RA. We developed an optimal carboxylated group of iron-oxide particles and adapted it to conjugate with CD3 antibody. We then investigated the labeling efficiency and binding specificity of the nano-sized iron oxide-based contrast agent IOPC and IOPC conjugated CD3 by cellular MRI via intravenous infusion. Specifically, we have detected a migration and accumulation of the T-cells in the arthritis joint in a rat RA model with in vivo MRI by IOPC-CD3.