ICAM-1 expression in autoimmune encephalitis visualized using magnetic resonance imaging.

The expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules in the intact brains of mice with experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE) was visualized by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) through the use of a new, target-specific MR contrast agent. Antibody-conjugated paramagnetic liposomes (ACPLs) were designed to achieve in vivo targeting of molecules expressed on vascular endothelium, while providing sufficient signal enhancement at these sites for detection by MRI. ACPLs targeted to intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), an endothelial leukocyte receptor upregulated on cerebral microvasculature during EAE, were administered to diseased mice. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed that fluorescently-tagged ACPLs were localized to central nervous system (CNS) microvasculature in a pattern consistent with ICAM-1 upregulation described immunohistochemically. High resolution MRI of mouse brains ex vivo demonstrated that ACPL binding conferred significant enhancement of signal intensity (SI) as compared to control images. These results suggest that ACPLs can be used as MRI contrast agents to visualize specific molecules expressed on vascular endothelium during disease.

New strategy in glycopolymer synthesis. Preparation of antigenic water-soluble poly(acrylamide-co-p-acrylamidophenyl beta-lactoside).

Stereospecific phase-transfer-catalyzed glycosidation of acetobromolactose 3 with p-nitrophenoxide gave the peracetylated 1,2-trans-beta-D-4-nitrophenyl lactoside 4. Functionalization of 4 into an N-acryloyl monomer was achieved by catalytic transfer hydrogenation of the nitro group, followed by N-acryloylation of the resulting amino group, on both O-acetyl-protected and unprotected disaccharides. Copolymerization of 4-acrylamidophenyl beta-lactoside (9) with acrylamide, initiated by ammonium persulfate, afforded a water-soluble carbohydrate copolymer (glycopolymer). The antigenicity of the new polymer was demonstrated by agar gel diffusion with Arachis hypogaea (peanut) and Ricinus communis (castor bean) lectins. Quantitative precipitation and enzyme linked lectin assays (ELLA) were also performed with peanut lectin.

Expedient syntheses of neoglycoproteins using phase transfer catalysis and reductive amination as key reactions.

Starting from peracetylated chloro- or bromo-glycosyl donors of N-acetylneuraminic acid, N-acetylglucosamine, glucose and lactose, the corresponding p-formylphenyl glycosides were synthesized stereospecifically under phase transfer catalysed conditions at room temperature in yields of 38-67%. After Zemplén de-O-acetylation, the formyl groups were directly and chemoselectively coupled to the lysine residues of bovine serum albumin by reductive amination using sodium cyanoborohydride. The conjugation reactions were followed as a function of time and under a series of different molar ratios of the reactants to provide glycoconjugates of varying degree of antigenicities. Thus, carbohydrate protein conjugates were made readily available using essentially two key reactions.

Paramagnetic polymerized liposomes as new recirculating MR contrast agents.

We describe a well-tolerated blood pool contrast agent with extended recirculatory half-life based on paramagnetic polymerized liposomes (PPLs). PPLs were constructed from a new type of polymerizable lipid molecule that has a derivative of gadopentetate dimeglumine as the hydrophilic head group and diacetylene groups in the hydrophobic acyl chains, which cross-link when irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) light. Biodistribution, blood pool half-life, and MR image enhancement were determined for PPLs composed of 10% of the gadopentetate dimeglumine lipid and 90% of ditricosadiynoyl tricosadiynayl phosphatidylcholine (DAPC) at a dose of 0.015 mmol Gd+3/kg in rats. In T1-weighed MR images (TR/TE = 400/18 msec), an average signal enhancement of 34% in the kidneys and 20% in the liver was observed, which persisted for at least 90 minutes after administration of the PPLs. Biodistribution studies using radiolabeled PPLs confirmed that 80% of the injected dose remained in the blood pool after 2 hours. The half-life of elimination from the blood pool was 19 hours. The preparation was well tolerated in rats and produced similar MR contrast enhancement of the blood pool as produced by other liposome contrast agents. However, the half-life of PPL elimination from the blood pool was prolonged relative to other liposome systems.