An elastase activity reporter for Electronic Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) and Overhauser-enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (OMRI) as a line-shifting nitroxide

摘要

Pulmonary inflammatory diseases are a major burden worldwide. They have in common an influx of neutrophils. Neutrophils secrete unchecked proteases at inflammation sites consequently leading to a protease/inhibitor imbalance. Among these proteases, neutrophil elastase is responsible for the degradation of the lung structure via elastin fragmentation. Therefore, monitoring the protease/inhibitor status in lungs non-invasively would be an important diagnostic tool.