A paramagnetic contrast agent with myeloperoxidase-sensing properties.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is an essential component of inflammatory response in norm and pathology. With an ultimate goal of non-invasive imaging of MPO we used a gadolinium-chelating bis(5-hydroxytrytamide) derivative of diethylenetetraamine pentaacetic acid (L1-Gd3+ salt) as a paramagnetic sensor of enzymatic activity. We tested whether L1-Gd3+ is active in reducing the oxidized form of myeloperoxidase, generated as a result of hydrogen peroxide reduction by the enzyme. We expected that upon activation by MPO/H2O2 L1-Gd3+ would not only oligomerise but also bind to other macromolecules present in the media and that the overall process will give rise to a net T1-weighted MRI signal increase.