Molecular Imaging of Collagen Destruction of the Spine
- Lei LiuLei LiuGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, ChinaDepartment of Spine Surgery, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, ChinaMore by Lei Liu
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- Kui HuangKui HuangGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, ChinaMore by Kui Huang
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- Wei LiWei LiDepartment of Pathology, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, ChinaMore by Wei Li
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- Rongmao QiuRongmao QiuGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, ChinaMore by Rongmao Qiu
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- Yijie FangYijie FangDepartment of Radiology, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, ChinaMore by Yijie Fang
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- Yongjie HuangYongjie HuangGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, ChinaMore by Yongjie Huang
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- Suwen ZhaoSuwen ZhaoGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, ChinaMore by Suwen Zhao
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- Hai LvHai LvDepartment of Spine Surgery, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, ChinaMore by Hai Lv
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- Kuibo Zhang*Kuibo Zhang*Email: [email protected]Department of Spine Surgery, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, ChinaMore by Kuibo Zhang
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- Hong Shan*Hong Shan*Email: [email protected]Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, ChinaDepartment of Interventional Medicine, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, ChinaMore by Hong Shan
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- Yang Li*Yang Li*Email: [email protected]Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, ChinaMore by Yang Li
Abstract
As the leading cause of disability worldwide, low back pain is commonly caused by biomechanical and catabolic disruptions to key structures of the spine, such as intervertebral discs and facet joints. To date, accurate, noninvasive detection of microdestruction within these tissues remains an elusive goal. Here, we report an in vivo imaging approach based on a collagen hybridizing peptide (CHP) that specifically targets disruption to the extracellular matrix architecture at the molecular scale─the denatured collagen molecules. Utilizing fluorescently labeled CHPs, live animal imaging, and light sheet fluorescence microscopy, we mapped collagen destruction in the lumbar spines in 3D, revealing that under normal conditions collagen destruction was localized to load-bearing anatomical structures including annulus fibrosus of the disc and the facet joints, where aging, tensile force (hindlimb suspension), and disc degeneration (needle puncture) escalated the CHP-binding in specific mouse models. We showed that targeting denatured collagen molecules allowed for an accurate, quantifiable interrogation of the structural integrity of these spinal matrixes with a greater sensitivity than anatomical imaging and histology. Finally, we demonstrated CHP’s binding to degenerated human discs, suggesting exciting potentials for applying CHP for diagnosing, monitoring, and treating various spinal disorders, including intervertebral disc degeneration, facet joint osteoarthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.
Cited By
This article is cited by 5 publications.
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