Research Area:
Images of certain tissues show some degree of contrast loss in the application of most imaging techniques. While this is not a problem for some examinations, it is a major issue when other tissue elements are examined with imaging equipment. In such cases, various contrast agents that can be used intravascularly provide indispensable help. In 1923, the very good X-ray absorption and potential benefits of iodine-containing compounds (which had hitherto been used only for the treatment of syphilis) were first discovered, and described (Osborne E, Sortherland C, Sholl A, Roundtree L. Roentgenography of the urinary tract during excretion of sodium iodide. JAMA. 1923;80:368). From this point on, the pace of events accelerated, and the aim was to develop contrast agents with less side effects and greater safety, replacing ionic, high osmolality compounds with non-ionic, lower osmolality contrast agents that covalently bind iodine. Nowadays, radiologists have the option to select from a wide variety of contrast agents and use them not only in equipment using ionising radiation, but also, for MRI screenings using agents with certain paramagnetic properties. The use of the most modern contrast agents can still affect the work of the tissue cells in the area of application and further on the renal cells that excrete them. The general physiological effects of contrast agents are well known, but the molecular processes that induce them is nearly unknown. The number of publications on intracellular effects is particularly low.
Clinical relevance:
From the review of relevant research and literature, the effects induced by contrast agents on the actin cytoskeleton on the molecular level is not known. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effects of contrast agents on tissue cells (human blood samples and renal cell lines) and on actin and its related actin-binding proteins.
Applied techniques, methods:
- Steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy (fluorescence anisotropy, fluorescence quenching, FRET, etc.)
- light and fluorescence microscopy, TIRF microscopy - super-resolution microscopy (Nano-Bio-Imaging Core Facility)
- FRAP
- DSC
- spectrophotometry, PAGE and other laboratory technics
Publications:
- Ujfalusi et al. 2022 (doi.org/10.1016/j.tca.2022.179165)
- Telek & Ujfalusi et al. 2022 (doi.org/10.3390/ijms23116189)
Members:
- Dr. Zoltán Ujfalusi, senior lecturer, principal investigator (MTMT ID: 10015840)
- Dr. Gábor Hild, associate professor
- Dr. Szilvia Huberné Dr. Barkó, senior lecturer
- Dr. Elek Telek, assistant lecturer
- Kinga Ujfalusi-Pozsonyi, assistant lecturer
Participating undergraduate students:
- Annamária Orsós (UP-FS)