Identification of Soluble Endoglin (sEng) and Its Use to Generate Recombinant sEng and sEng-Specific Antibodies (BIDMC 1364)

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
posted on 12/18/2011

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A new generation of magnetic resonance imaging is on the horizon with the advent of hyperpolarization technology. Contributing to this advance, radiologists led by Dr. David Alsop at BIDMC have invented a novel bloodflow and perfusion imaging technique.

A new way to use hyperpolarized contrast agents in MRI, the technique permits perfusion imaging with signal-to-noise ratios that are much higher than otherwise possible today and extends the utility of lower field MR scanners. Monitoring bloodflow with this MRI technique avoids the ionizing radiation needed for other imaging modalities like PET.

Using either dynamic nuclear polarization or parahydrogen induced polarization simple 13C-enriched reagents of a broad chemical class, particularly alcohols, are readily produced and they offer a very attractive profile as biomedical imaging agents.

Upon administration, the method follows the long T1 relaxation time of hyperpolarized carbon in the alcohols, which is long enough to permit transfer, injection, distribution and imaging.

Any physician tracking blood flow could benefit from images generated with this technique. From assessing cardiac ischemia or potential for stroke to confirming success in vascular surgery or cancer therapy, the medical applications are wide ranging and numerous.