Assessing drug-cell and drug-tissue interactions through spectral FRET imaging

Structural complexity and heterogeneity may play critical roles in pathophysiology and therapeutic effect, at length scales ranging from subcellular (nm) to whole organ (cm). Here, we report on efforts to utilize a multidimensional spectral FRET imaging approach for visualization of the effects of pharmacologic treatments on tissues. We have developed a transgenic rat line expressing a cAMP FRET reporter for visualization of second messenger signaling in tissues in response to treatment and pathological conditions. When utilized with vascular and lung preparations, transgenic FRET tissues displayed the ability to elicit agonist-induced cAMP responses in single cells.