Visistar VCAM-1

Visistar VCAM-1 an ultrasound contrast agent targeted to Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (VCAM-1) an endothelial marker of inflammation

  • Accumulated Visistar-VCAM-1 in diabetic mouse kidney

  • Wash-in and accumulation in aorta and cervical arteries of ApoE mouse

  • Wash-in of control agent in aorta and cervical arteries of ApoE mouse

Applications

Visistar VCAM-1 is targeted to Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 which is up-regulated on vascular endothelium in the context of inflammation. Specific applications include imaging inflamed atherosclerotic plaques, Crohn's disease and other inflammatory diseases. Like all Visistar products, simply administer the product directly from the vial, no time-consuming conjugation is required.

“This is the best anti-VCAM-1 antibody conjugated microspheres in the market. There is no need to incubate the antibody with the functionalized microspheres, thus avoiding the possibility of excess unconjugated antibody that might compete with binding sites or the need to perform a clean-up step to remove unconjugated antibody and risk the loss of microspheres. The formulation is pressurized and the user only withdraws the required amount of microspheres for each injection. This ensures consistent gas contents for each injection and minimizes the variability in association with the deterioration of echogenicity of an opened vial of microbubbles as the experiment progresses throughout the day".

Patrick Kee, Assistant Professor, Division of Cardiology, University of Texas Houston, Houston, TX

Protocols

Visistar VCAM-1 is a microsphere ultrasound contrast agent containing a targeting ligand specific for mouse Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule (VCAM)-1. VCAM-1 (CD106) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that is up-regulated on the luminal surface of endothelial cells in the context of inflammation. VCAM-1 serves as a key mediator of leukocyte adhesion by binding its ligand α4β1 integrin (VLA-4), which is expressed on monocytes and lymphocytes, High expression levels of endothelial VCAM-1 have been demonstrated in a number of inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis, Crohn’s disease, and diabetic kidney disease. Visistar-VCAM-1 can be used for assessing the location and timecourse of VCAM-1 expression using ultrasound molecular imaging.

Specifications

Visistar VCAM-1 is a molecular imaging agent used for detecting chronic inflammation. Visistar VCAM-1 is targeted to vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), which is up-regulated on vascular endothelium in the context of inflammation. Specific applications include imaging inflamed atherosclerotic plaques, Crohn’s disease, and other inflammatory diseases. The agent echogenicity is optimal at ultrasound frequencies in 1-15 MHz range. Contrast imaging settings such as pulse inversion or CPS must be enabled on the ultrasound scanner for optimal contrast sensitivity. The agent remains acoustically active in vivo for 5-15 minutes, depending on the administered dose. Optimal dosages vary with application.