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Updated: Aug 9, 2025
Non-invasive In Vivo Fluorescence Optical Imaging of Inflammatory MMP Activity Using an Activatable Fluorescent Imaging Agent
Published on: May 8, 2017
A Photoinduced Electron Transfer-Based Hypochlorite-Specific Fluorescent Probe for Selective Imaging of
Mousumi Baruah1, Haw-Young Kwon2, Heewon Cho3
1Molecular Sensors and Therapeutics (MST) Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Delhi NCR, NH 91, Tehsil Dadri, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201314, India.
Abstract:
The differentiation of the distinct phenotypes of macrophages is essential for monitoring the stage of inflammatory diseases for accurate diagnosis and treatment. Recent studies revealed that the level of hypochlorite (OCl-) varies from activated M1 macrophages (killing pathogens) to M2 (resolution of inflammation) during inflammation. Thus, we developed a simple and efficient fluorescent probe for discriminating M1 from M0 and M2. Herein, fluorescent-based imaging is applied as an alternative to immunohistochemistry, which is challenging due to the tedious process and high cost. We developed a hypochlorite-specific probe PMS-T to differentiate M1 and M2, employing a metabolism-oriented live-cell distinction. This probe enables the detection of inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis in an ex vivo mouse model. Thus, it can be a potential chemical tool for monitoring inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, that may overcome the existing barriers of immunohistochemistry.
Insights
Researchers developed a hypochlorite-specific fluorescent probe, PMS-T, to distinguish between M1 and M2 macrophages. This tool aids in monitoring inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, offering an alternative to traditional methods.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemical Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Macrophage differentiation into M1 and M2 phenotypes is crucial for inflammatory disease monitoring.
- Hypochlorite levels differ between M1 and M2 macrophages during inflammation.
- Current immunohistochemistry methods for macrophage phenotyping are costly and time-consuming.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a simple and efficient fluorescent probe for discriminating M1 from M0 and M2 macrophages.
- To utilize fluorescent imaging as a cost-effective and less tedious alternative to immunohistochemistry.
- To establish a hypochlorite-specific probe (PMS-T) for live-cell distinction based on metabolism.
Main Methods:
- Development of a hypochlorite-specific fluorescent probe, PMS-T.
- Application of metabolism-oriented live-cell distinction.
- Detection of inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis in an ex vivo mouse model using the probe.
Main Results:
- The fluorescent probe PMS-T successfully differentiated M1 and M2 macrophages.
- Fluorescent imaging demonstrated potential as an alternative to immunohistochemistry.
- The probe enabled detection of rheumatoid arthritis in an ex vivo mouse model.
Conclusions:
- PMS-T is a valuable tool for discriminating macrophage phenotypes.
- Fluorescent probe imaging offers a practical approach for monitoring inflammatory diseases.
- This method can overcome existing limitations of immunohistochemistry in disease diagnosis and treatment.
