Detection and characterization of murine colitis and carcinogenesis by molecularly targeted contrast-enhanced ultrasound

Figure 3 mucosal addressin cellular adhesion molecule-1-targeted contrast enhanced ultrasound reflects experimental intestinal inflammation. A: Schematic illustration of a destruction-replenishment sequence with ultrasound pulses of high acoustic power (red bar) and reperfusion of contrast agent for acquisition of highly specific molecularly targeted CEUS. Image insert showing B mode image (left) and corresponding CEUS image (right); B: CEUS with targeted contrast agent against MAdCAM-1. Contrast mean power of defined ROI in descending colon in arbitrary unit dB. Decibel values correlate with exposure to DSS in a time-dependent manner. Boxplot with median and whiskers, n = 10 for each group, ^aP < 0.05; C: Immunofluorescence with staining against MAdCAM-1 (bright red), cell nuclei counterstained with DAPI (blue). Positively stained cells were counted in at least 10 representative high power fields per section and cell numbers were expressed semi-quantitatively. Left panel: corresponding HE stained sections; D: Immunoblot with purified anti-mouse MAdCAM-1 antibody showing a characteristic protein band at 58-66kDa. Animals exposed to DSS for 6 and 9 d showing stronger expression of MAdCAM-1 than control animals. DSS: Dextran sodium-sulfate; CEUS: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound; MAdCAM-1: Mucosal addressin cellular adhesion molecule-1.