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Figure 4 Molecular imaging of cathepsin B protease activity in atherosclerosis using an injectable protease-activatable near-infrared fluorescent (NIRF) agent (41). (A) In vivo murine magnetic resonance image of an aortic plaque (arrow) co-registers with NIRF signal enhancement on (B) in vivo fluorescence mediated tomography, a three-dimensional noninvasive and quantitative fluorescence imaging method (63). (C) Sudan IV-stained lipid-rich aortic lesions correlate well with (D) protease-generated NIRF signal within plaques. (E) Immunoreactive cathepsin B enzyme (x200 original magnification) correlates with (F) focal NIRF signal on microscopic sections, consistent with cathepsin-B–mediated activation of the imaging agent. Reproduced by permission from reference 41.
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