scholarly journals Imaging and Methotrexate Response Monitoring of Systemic Inflammation in Arthritic Rats Employing the Macrophage PET Tracer [18F]Fluoro-PEG-Folate

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Durga M. S. H. Chandrupatla ◽  
Gerrit Jansen ◽  
Elise Mantel ◽  
Philip S. Low ◽  
Takami Matsuyama ◽  
...  

Background. In rheumatoid arthritis, articular inflammation is a hallmark of disease, while the involvement of extra-articular tissues is less well defined. Here, we examined the feasibility of PET imaging with the macrophage tracer [18F]fluoro-PEG-folate, targeting folate receptorβ(FRβ), to monitor systemic inflammatory disease in liver and spleen of arthritic rats before and after methotrexate (MTX) treatment.Methods. [18F]Fluoro-PEG-folate PET scans (60 min) were acquired in saline- and MTX-treated (1 mg/kg, 4x) arthritic rats, followed by tissue resection and radiotracer distribution analysis. Liver and spleen tissues were stained for ED1/ED2-macrophage markers and FRβexpression.Results. [18F]Fluoro-PEG-folate PET and ex vivo tissue distribution studies revealed a significant (p<0.01) 2-fold lower tracer uptake in both liver and spleen of MTX-treated arthritic rats. Consistently, ED1- and ED2-positive macrophages were significantly (p<0.01) decreased in liver (4-fold) and spleen (3-fold) of MTX-treated compared with saline-treated rats. Additionally, FRβ-positive macrophages were also significantly reduced in liver (5-fold,p<0.005) and spleen (3-fold,p<0.01) of MTX- versus saline-treated rats.Conclusions. MTX treatment reduced activated macrophages in liver and spleen, as markers for systemic inflammation in these organs. Macrophage PET imaging with [18F]fluoro-PEG-folate holds promise for detection of systemic inflammation in RA as well as therapy (MTX) response monitoring.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia-Jia Lin ◽  
Chia-Pao Chuang ◽  
Jia-Yu Lin ◽  
Feng-Ting Huang ◽  
chiun-wei Huang

Abstract Purpose Dynamic changes in tumour-associated fibroblast activation protein (FAP) expression in tumours of different stages may be helpful for prognostic evaluation and treatment response monitoring, making this protein a promising surveillance biomarker for timely diagnosis of malignant tumours and effective planning of patient care. Thus, novel FAP-PET imaging tracers were developed and evaluated for the diagnosis of xenograft glioma tumours. Methods To prospectively verify the prognostic value of the developed FAP tracers, [68Ga]Ga-FAPtp and [68Ga]Ga-Alb-FAPtp-01, measurements of FAP expression and cell uptake and specific binding assays were conducted in U87MG glioma cells. Dynamic/static PET/CT scans were acquired for tumour targeting studies in vivo and in comparison with the reference tracer [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 to evaluate diagnostic efficacy. Tumour autoradiography and immunohistochemistry images were acquired to confirm the tracer distribution within the tumour to determine whether it was in accordance with the pathologic data. Results Both [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 and [68Ga]Ga-FAPtp demonstrated marked tumour uptake and comparable pharmaceutical profiles in 1 h dynamic PET scans, and [68Ga]Ga-FAPtp had marginally favourable tumour uptake and less kidney and liver uptake. However, both tracers demonstrated rapid clearance from tumours. Thus, the optimized rationally designed FAP-targeting PET tracer [68Ga]Ga-Alb-FAPtp-01, with albumin binding capability, demonstrated prominent longitudinal tumour uptake in tumour xenografts and displayed significant tumour-to-background contrast over time. The tracer uptake values and T/M ratio were 1.775 ± 0.179 SUV and T/M = 5.9, 1.533 ± 0.222 SUV and T/M = 6.7, and 1.425 ± 0.204 SUV and T/M = 9.5, respectively, at 1 h, 2 h and 3 h. Major organs, such as the heart (0.504 ± 0.125% ID/g), muscle (0.156 ± 0.043% ID/g) and brain (0.119 ± 0.039% ID/g), all displayed comparatively low levels of tracer uptake. Conclusion Its improved tumour uptake and pharmacokinetics suggest that the [68Ga]Ga-Alb-FAPtp-01 tracer can noninvasively detect FAP activation in vivo, permitting a precise definition of its roles in tumours of different stages and yielding insights regarding novel FAP-targeted radiotherapeutic strategies at the molecular level.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arghavan Jahandideh ◽  
Mia Ståhle ◽  
Jenni Virta ◽  
Xiang-Guo Li ◽  
Heidi Liljenbäck ◽  
...  

The 68Gallium-labeled 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1-glutaric acid-4,7-diacetic acid conjugated radiolabelled arginine-glycine-aspartic acid peptide ([68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-RGD) is a positron emission tomography (PET) tracer binding to cell surface receptor αvβ3 integrin that is upregulated during angiogenesis and inflammation. We studied whether αvβ3 targeting PET imaging can detect myocardial inflammation in a rat model of autoimmune myocarditis. To induce myocarditis, rats (n = 8) were immunized with porcine cardiac myosin in complete Freund's adjuvant on days 0 and 7. Control rats (n = 8) received Freund's adjuvant alone. On day 21, in vivo PET/CT imaging with [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-RGD followed by ex vivo autoradiography and immunohistochemistry were carried out. Inflammatory lesions were detected histologically in the myocardium of 7 out of 8 immunized rats. In vivo PET images showed higher [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-RGD accumulation in the myocardium of rats with inflammation than the non-inflamed myocardium of control rats (SUVmean 0.4 ± 0.1 vs. 0.1 ± 0.02; P = 0.00006). Ex vivo autoradiography and histology confirmed that [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-RGD uptake co-localized with inflammatory lesions containing αvβ3 integrin-positive capillary-like structures. A non-specific [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-(RGE)2 tracer showed 76% lower uptake than [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-RGD in the inflamed myocardium. Our results indicate that αvβ3 integrin-targeting [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-RGD is a potential PET tracer for the specific detection of active inflammatory lesions in autoimmune myocarditis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Y. Stevens ◽  
Haley C. Cropper ◽  
Katherine L. Lucot ◽  
Aisling M. Chaney ◽  
Kendra J. Lechtenberg ◽  
...  

Abstract Background B cells play a central role in multiple sclerosis (MS) through production of injurious antibodies, secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and antigen presentation. The therapeutic success of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting B cells in some but not all individuals suffering from MS highlights the need for a method to stratify patients and monitor response to treatments in real-time. Herein, we describe the development of the first CD19 positron emission tomography (PET) tracer, and its evaluation in a rodent model of MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Methods Female C57BL/6 J mice were induced with EAE through immunization with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG1–125). PET imaging of naïve and EAE mice was performed 19 h after administration of [64Cu]CD19-mAb. Thereafter, radioactivity in organs of interest was determined by gamma counting, followed by ex vivo autoradiography of central nervous system (CNS) tissues. Anti-CD45R (B220) immunostaining of brain tissue from EAE and naïve mice was also conducted. Results Radiolabelling of DOTA-conjugated CD19-mAb with 64Cu was achieved with a radiochemical purity of 99% and molar activity of 2 GBq/μmol. Quantitation of CD19 PET images revealed significantly higher tracer binding in whole brain of EAE compared to naïve mice (2.02 ± 0.092 vs. 1.68 ± 0.06 percentage of injected dose per gram, % ID/g, p = 0.0173). PET findings were confirmed by ex vivo gamma counting of perfused brain tissue (0.22 ± 0.020 vs. 0.12 ± 0.003 % ID/g, p = 0.0010). Moreover, ex vivo autoradiography of brain sections corresponded with PET imaging results and the spatial distribution of B cells observed in B220 immunohistochemistry—providing further evidence that [64Cu]CD19-mAb enables visualization of B cell infiltration into the CNS of EAE mice. Conclusion CD19-PET imaging can be used to detect elevated levels of B cells in the CNS of EAE mice, and has the potential to impact the way we study, monitor, and treat clinical MS.


2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 724-731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie Geisler ◽  
Antje Willuweit ◽  
Michael Schroeter ◽  
Karl Zilles ◽  
Kurt Hamacher ◽  
...  

After cerebral ischemia or trauma, secondary neurodegeneration may occur in brain regions remote from the lesion. Little is known about the capacity of cerebral gliomas to induce secondary neurodegeneration. A previous study showed that cis-4-[18F]fluoro-D-proline (D- cis-[18F]FPro) detects secondary reactions of thalamic nuclei after cortical infarction with high sensitivity. Here we investigated the potential of D- cis-[18F]FPro to detect neuronal reactions in remote brain areas in the F98 rat glioma model using ex vivo autoradiography. Although the tumor tissue of F98 gliomas showed no significant D- cis-[18F]FPro uptake, we observed prominent tracer uptake in 7 of 10 animals in the nuclei of the ipsilateral thalamus, which varied with the specific connectivity with the cortical areas affected by the tumor. In addition, strong D- cis-[18F]FPro accumulation was noted in the hippocampal area CA1 in two animals with ipsilateral F98 gliomas involving hippocampal subarea CA3 rostral to that area. Furthermore, focal D- cis-[18F]FPro uptake was present in the necrotic center of the tumors. Cis-4-[18F]fluoro-D-proline uptake was accompanied by microglial activation in the thalamus, in the hippocampus, and in the necrotic center of the tumors. The data suggest that brain tumors induce secondary neuronal reactions in remote brain areas, which may be detected by positron emission tomography (PET) using D- cis-[18F]FPro.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 745
Author(s):  
Jonathan Cotton ◽  
Chris Marc Goehring ◽  
Anna Kuehn ◽  
Andreas Maurer ◽  
Kerstin Fuchs ◽  
...  

The acidic hydrolase α-fucosidase (AF) is a biomarker for maladies such as cancer and inflammation. The most advanced probes for α-fucosidase are unfortunately constrained to ex vivo or in vitro applications. The in vivo detection and quantification of AF using positron emission tomography would allow for better discovery and diagnosis of disease as well as provide better understanding of disease progression. We synthesized, characterized, and evaluated a radiolabeled small molecule inhibitor of AF based on a known molecule. The radiosynthesis involved the 11C methylation of a phenoxide, which was generated in situ by ultrasonification of the precursor with sodium hydride. The tracer was produced with a decay corrected yield of 41.7 ± 16.5% and had a molar activity of 65.4 ± 30.3 GBq/μmol. The tracer was shown to be stable in mouse serum at 60 min. To test the new tracer, HCT116 colorectal carcinoma cells were engineered to overexpress human AF. In vitro evaluation revealed 3.5-fold higher uptake in HCT116AF cells compared to HCT116 controls (26.4 ± 7.8 vs. 7.5 ± 1.0 kBq/106 cells). Static PET scans 50 min post injection revealed 2.5-fold higher tracer uptake in the HCT116AF tumors (3.0 ± 0.8%ID/cc (n = 6)) compared with the controls (1.2 ± 0.8 (n = 5)). Dynamic scans showed higher uptake in the HCT116AF tumors at all time-points (n = 2). Ex vivo analysis of the tumors, utilizing fluorescent DDK2 antibodies, confirmed the expression of human AF in the HCT116AF xenografts. We have developed a novel PET tracer to image AF in vivo and will now apply this to relevant disease models.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Y Stevens ◽  
Haley C Cropper ◽  
Katherine L Lucot ◽  
Aisling M Chaney ◽  
Kendra J Lechtenberg ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: B cells play a central role in multiple sclerosis (MS) through production of injurious antibodies, secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and antigen presentation. The therapeutic success of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting B cells in some but not all individuals suffering from MS highlights the need for a method to stratify patients and monitor response to treatments in real time. Herein, we describe the development of the first CD19 positron emission tomography (PET) tracer and its evaluation in a rodent model of MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).Methods: Female C57BL/6J mice were induced with EAE through immunisation with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG1–125). PET imaging of naïve and EAE mice was performed 19 h after administration of [64Cu]CD19-mAb. Thereafter, radioactivity in organs of interest was determined by gamma counting, followed by ex vivo autoradiography of central nervous system (CNS) tissues. Anti-CD45R (B220) immunostaining of brain tissue from EAE and naïve mice was also conducted.Results: Radiolabelling of DOTA-conjugated CD19-mAb with 64Cu was achieved with a radiochemical purity of 99% and molar activity of 2 GBq/mol. Quantitation of CD19 PET images revealed significantly higher tracer binding in whole brain of EAE compared to naïve mice (2.02±0.092 vs. 1.68±0.06 percentage of injected dose per gram, %ID/g, p=0.0173). PET findings were confirmed by ex vivo gamma counting of perfused brain tissue (0.22±0.020 vs. 0.12±0.003 %ID/g, p=0.0010). Moreover, ex vivo autoradiography of brain sections corresponded with PET imaging results and the spatial distribution of B cells observed in B220 immunohistochemistry – providing further evidence that [64Cu]CD19-mAb enables visualisation of B cell infiltration into the CNS of EAE mice. Conclusion: CD19-PET imaging can be used to detect elevated levels of B cells in the CNS of EAE mice, and has the potential to impact the way we study, monitor, and treat clinical MS.


2017 ◽  
Vol 89 (10) ◽  
pp. 1024-1031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara J Makaretz ◽  
Megan Quimby ◽  
Jessica Collins ◽  
Nikos Makris ◽  
Scott McGinnis ◽  
...  

ObjectiveThe semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia (svPPA) is typically associated with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) with longTAR DNA-binding protein (TDP)-43-positive neuropil threads and dystrophic neurites (type C), and is only rarely due to a primary tauopathy or Alzheimer’s disease. We undertook this study to investigate the localisation and magnitude of the presumed tau Positron Emission Tomography (PET) tracer [18F]Flortaucipir (FTP; also known as T807 or AV1451) in patients with svPPA, hypothesising that most patients would not show tracer uptake different from controls.MethodsFTP and [11C]Pittsburgh compound B PET imaging as well as MRI were performed in seven patients with svPPA and in 20 controls. FTP signal was analysed by visual inspection and by quantitative comparison to controls, with and without partial volume correction.ResultsAll seven patients showed elevated FTP uptake in the anterior temporal lobe with a leftward asymmetry that was not observed in healthy controls. This elevated FTP signal, largely co-localised with atrophy, was evident on both visual inspection and quantitative cortical surface-based analysis. Five patients were amyloid negative, one was amyloid positive and one has an unknown amyloid status.ConclusionsIn this series of patients with clinical profiles, structural MRI and amyloid PET imaging typical for svPPA, FTP signal was unexpectedly elevated with a spatial pattern localised to areas of atrophy. This raises questions about the possible off-target binding of this tracer to non-tau molecules associated with neurodegeneration. Further investigation with autopsy analysis will help illuminate the binding target(s) of FTP in cases of suspected FTLD-TDP neuropathology.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 20200024
Author(s):  
Enrico M Novelli ◽  
Chan Hong Moon ◽  
Tiffany A Pham ◽  
Lydia A Perkins ◽  
Lynda Little-Ihrig ◽  
...  

Increased vascular cell adhesion (hyperadhesion) to the endothelium is responsible for the hallmark acute pain episodes, or vaso-occlusive crises (VOC), of sickle cell disease. The integrin αvβ3 plays an important role in VOC since it mediates sickle red blood cell adhesion to the endothelium, a process that leads to ischemia and painful bone infarction. In the pilot study presented herein, we hypothesized that real-time imaging of hyperadhesion could quantify VOC severity and identify the most vulnerable anatomical sites. We also hypothesized that harnessing hyperadhesion as a proximate event in VOC would provide sensitive, objective evidence of VOC before pain has developed. Specifically, we tested whether positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of integrin αvβ3 using the PET tracer 68Ga-PRGD2 would successfully image hyperadhesion associated with VOC in a patient with sickle cell disease. We observed persistently higher tracer uptake in the femurs during VOC compared to baseline. In the vessel, after an initial and transient increase during VOC, blood pool activity was similar between baseline and VOC. These findings suggest that PET imaging of integrin αvβ3 may be a valuable strategy for imaging of VOC.


Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna M Silvola ◽  
Xiang-Guo Li ◽  
Jenni Virta ◽  
Guru Prasad Padmasola ◽  
Päivi Marjamäki ◽  
...  

Introduction:Macrophages are a major cell type in inflamed atherosclerotic plaques. Since folate receptor β (FR-β) is highly expressed in activated macrophages, we hypothesized that it might serve as a new marker for inflamed atherosclerotic plaques. Hypothesis: We aimed at evaluating a FR-β targeted PET tracer, Al 18 F NOTA-Folate, for the detection of inflamed atherosclerotic plaques. Methods:Atherosclerotic mice deficient for low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR -/- ApoB 100/100 , n=12), C57BL control mice (n=9), and Watanabe rabbits (n=4) with endothelial denudation-induced atherosclerosis in the aorta were used. Biodistribution of Al 18 F-NOTA-Folate (specific radioactivity 130 GMq/μmol) was investigated in vivo by PET/contrast enhanced CT and ex vivo by gamma counting and autoradiography of aortic sections. In addition, prior to Al 18 F-NOTA-Folate study, the Watanabe rabbits were PET/CT imaged with 18 F-FDG. Results:Atherosclerotic mice demonstrated large and macrophage-rich atheromatous plaques in the aorta. The in vivo PET/CT revealed significantly higher uptake of Al 18 F-NOTA-Folate in the aortic arch of atherosclerotic mice compared to controls (aorta-to-blood ratio 1.5±0.3 vs. 0.7±0.2, P <0.0001), which were verified by ex vivo measurements. Autoradiography confirmed focally increased uptake of Al 18 F-NOTA-Folate in the atherosclerotic plaques (plaque-to-normal vessel wall ratio 2.6±0.7, P <0.0001). Competitive study with excess of unlabelled folate reduced Al 18 F-NOTA-Folate uptake in the aorta by app. 80% and thus verified the specificity of its binding. In the rabbit aorta, the PET/CT showed a strong focal in vivo uptake of Al 18 F-NOTA-Folate co-localizing with an atherosclerotic abdominal aorta with highest aorta-to-blood ratio of 6.0. For comparison, with 18 F-FDG the ratio was 2.4 in the same area. Conclusions: Al 18 F-NOTA-Folate, targeting FR-β, accumulates in macrophage-rich atherosclerotic plaques, which can be detected in vivo by PET/CT in experimental models of atherosclerosis. Further development of the tracer for imaging of patients with atherosclerosis is warranted.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiel D. Neumann ◽  
Joseph E. Blecha ◽  
Chih-Kai Chao ◽  
Tony Huynh ◽  
Kurt R. Zinn ◽  
...  

Background:: To investigate dynamic live tissue organophosphorus nerve agent uptake and distribution fates resulting in acetylcholinesterase inhibition, we recently reported the first-in-class fluorine-18 (18F) radiolabeled positron emission tomography (PET) imaging tracer known as [18F]O-(2-fluoroethyl)-O-(p-nitrophenyl)methylphosphonate. This tracer has been initially studied in live rats with PET imaging. Objective.: We sought to evaluate the PET tracer in vivo using a new dose formulation of saline, ethanol and L-ascorbic acid, and compare the influence of this formulation on in vivo tracer performance to previous data collected using a CH3CN:PBS formulation. Methods:: A high molar activity [18F] tracer radiosynthesis was used. Doses were formulated as saline, ethanol (≤ 1%) and L-ascorbic acid (0.1%), pH 4.0-4.5. Stability was evaluated to 6 h. Dose injection (i.v.) into male rats was followed by either ex vivo biodistribution profiling at 5, 30, 90 min, or dynamic 90 min PET imaging. Rat biodistribution and PET imaging data were compared. Results and Discussion:: An optimized radiosynthesis (8 ± 2 % RCY) resulted in stable doses for 6 h (>99%). Arterial blood included tracer and a single metabolite. The ex vivo biodistribution and live tissue PET imaging data revealed rapid radioactivity uptake and distributed tissue levels: heart and lung, highest; liver, moderate; and brain, lowest. Conclusions:: Imaging and biodistribution data were highly correlated with expected radioactivity tissue uptake and distribution in target organs. Lower brain radioactivity levels by PET imaging were found for the new formulation (saline, 1% L-ascorbic acid, < 1% ethanol) as compared to the established CH3CN:PBS formulation. Overall, we find that the i.v. dose formulation changed the in vivo profile of an organophosphorus PET tracer is considered an important finding for future organophosporus PET tracer studies.


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