Technical Notes Iodine-131-Labeled Fibronectin: Potential Agent for Imaging Atherosclerotic Lesion

Fibronectin is known to interact with fibrin, collagen, etc. We have labeled fibronectin with 131I, and measured its accumulation in the deendothelialized lesion in the rabbit aorta to evaluate it as a candidate for imaging atherosclerotic lesions and thrombi. Accumulation of [131I] fibronectin in the deendothelialized lesion was apparent at 48 hr, and increased at 72 hr after injection of the agent. Our results indicate that radiolabeled fibronectin may be a useful tracer for imaging early atherosclerotic lesion and thrombus. J NucÃ-Med 29:1264-1267,1988 /arly detection of atheroma and thrombus is of great clinical interest with regard to current therapeutic at tempts to reduce deterioration and the incidence of thrombosis. The sites of early lesions of atherosclerosis are regions where the permeability of the wall to plasma proteins is increased, at least in part due to alteration or damage of the endothelium (7). Recently, fibronectin was reported to be abundant in atherosclerotic lesion