Innovations in Nuclear Medicine Imaging for Reactive Oxygen Species: Applications and Radiopharmaceuticals.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated during normal cellular energy production and play a critical role in maintaining cellular function. However, excessive ROS can damage cells and tissues, contributing to the development of diseases such as cardiovascular, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative disorders. This review explores the potential of nuclear medicine imaging techniques for detecting ROS and evaluates various radiopharmaceuticals used in these applications. Radiopharmaceuticals, which are drugs labeled with radionuclides, can bind to specific biomarkers, facilitating their identification in vivo using nuclear medicine equipment, i.e., positron emission tomography and single photon emission computed tomography, for diagnostic purposes. This review includes a comprehensive search of PubMed, covering radiopharmaceuticals such as analogs of fluorescent probes and antioxidant vitamin C, and biomarkers targeting mitochondrial complex I or cystine/glutamate transporter.

Comparison of digital and analog [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT for detecting post-prostatectomy biochemical recurrence in prostate cancer patients: a prospective study.

Digital positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has shown enhanced sensitivity and spatial resolution compared with analog PET/CT. The present study compared the diagnostic performance of digital and analog PET/CT with [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 in prostate cancer patients who experienced biochemical recurrence (BCR) after prostatectomy. Forty prostate cancer patients who experienced BCR, defined as serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentrations exceeding 0.2 ng/mL after prostatectomy, were prospectively recruited. These patients were stratified into three groups based on their serum PSA levels. [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 was injected into each patient, and images were acquired using both analog and digital PET/CT scanners. Analog and digital PET/CT showed comparable lesion detection rate (71.8% vs. 74.4%), sensitivity (85.0% vs. 90.0%), and positive predictive value (PPV, 100.0% vs. 100.0%). However, digital PET/CT detected more lesions (139 vs. 111) and had higher maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax, 14.3 vs. 10.3) and higher kappa index (0.657 vs. 0.502) than analog PET/CT, regardless of serum PSA levels. On both analog and digital PET/CT, lesion detection rates and interrater agreement increased with increasing serum PSA levels. Compared with analog PET/CT, digital PET/CT detected more lesions with a higher SUVmax and better interrater agreement in prostate cancer patients who experienced BCR after prostatectomy.

Application of TSPO-Specific Positron Emission Tomography Radiotracer as an Early Indicator of Acute Liver Failure Induced by Propacetamol, a Prodrug of Paracetamol.

Acetaminophen overdose is a leading cause of acute liver failure (ALF), and effective treatment depends on early prediction of disease progression. ALF diagnosis currently requires blood collection 24-72 h after APAP ingestion, necessitating repeated tests and hospitalization. Here, we assessed earlier ALF diagnosis using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of translocator proteins (TSPOs), which are involved in molecular transport, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and energy metabolism, with the radiotracer [18F]GE180. We intraperitoneally administered propacetamol hydrochloride to male C57BL/6 mice to induce ALF. We performed in vivo PET/CT imaging 3 h later using the TSPO-specific radiotracer [18F]GE180 and quantitatively analyzed the PET images by determining the averaged standardized uptake value (SUVav) in the liver parenchyma. We assessed liver TSPO expression levels via real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. [18F]GE180 PET imaging 3 h after propacetamol administration (1500 mg/kg) significantly increased liver SUVav compared to controls (p = 0.001). Analyses showed a 10-fold and 4-fold increase in TSPO gene and protein expression, respectively, in the liver, 3 h after propacetamol induction compared to controls. [18F]GE180 PET visualized and quantified propacetamol-induced ALF through TSPO overexpression. These findings highlight TSPO PET's potential as a non-invasive imaging biomarker for early-stage ALF.

One-Year Longitudinal Changes in Tau Accumulation on [18F]PI-2620 PET in the Alzheimer Spectrum.

We investigated the longitudinal changes in cortical tau accumulation and their association with cognitive decline in patients in the Alzheimer disease (AD) continuum using 2-(2-([18F]fluoro)pyridin-4-yl)-9H-pyrrolo[2,3-b:4,5c']dipyridine ([18F]PI-2620) PET. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 52 participants (age, 69.7 ± 8.4 y; 18 men and 34 women): 7 with normal cognition, 28 with mild cognitive impairment, and 17 with AD. They all completed the [18F]PI-2620 and [18F]florbetaben PET, MRI, and neuropsychologic tests at baseline and, excepting the [18F]florbetaben PET, at the 1-y follow-up. Amyloid-ß (Aß) PET images were visually scored as positive (+) or negative (-). Patients on the AD continuum, including Aß+ mild cognitive impairment and AD, were classified into early-onset (EO+) (<65 y old) or late-onset (LO+) (≥65 y old) groups. [18F]PI-2620 PET SUV ratios (SUVRs) were determined by calculating the cerebral-to-inferior cerebellar ratio. Cortical volumes were calculated using 3-dimensional T1-weighted MRI. The correlation between tau accumulation progression and cognitive decline was also investigated. Results: The global [18F]PI-2620 PET SUVRs were 1.04 ± 0.07 in 15 Aß- patients, 1.18 ± 0.21 in 20 LO+ patients (age, 76.7 ± 3.8 y), and 1.54 ± 0.38 in 17 EO+ patients (age, 63.4 ± 5.4 y; P < 0.001) at baseline. The global SUVR increased over 1 y by 0.05 ± 0.07 (3.90%) and 0.13 ± 0.22 (8.41%) in the LO+ and EO+ groups, respectively, whereas in the Aß- groups, it remained unchanged. The EO+ group showed higher global and regional tau deposition than did the Aß- and LO+ groups (P < 0.05 for each) and rapid accumulation in Braak stage V (0.15 ± 0.25; 9.10% ± 12.27%; P = 0.016 and 0.008), Braak stage VI (0.08 ± 0.12; 7.16% ± 10.06%; P < 0.006 and 0.005), and global SUVR (P = 0.013) compared with the Aß- group. In the EO+ group, the changes in SUVR in Braak stages II-VI were strongly correlated with the baseline and changes in verbal memory (P < 0.03). The LO+ group showed higher tau accumulation in Braak stage I-IV areas than did the Aß- group (P < 0.001 for each). In the LO+ group, the change in SUVR in Braak stages III and IV moderately correlated with the change in attention (P < 0.05), and the change in SUVR in Braak stages V and VI moderately correlated with the change in visuospatial function (P < 0.005). Conclusion: These findings suggest that [18F]PI-2620 PET can be a biomarker to provide regional and chronologic information about tau pathology in the AD continuum.

Direct and Indirect Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Imaging with PET/MRI in a Tumor Xenograft Model.

Background Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are a promising cancer therapy; however, reliable and repeatable methods for tracking and monitoring CAR T cells in vivo remain underexplored. Purpose To investigate direct and indirect imaging strategies for tracking the biodistribution of CAR T cells and monitoring their therapeutic effect in target tumors. Materials and Methods CAR T cells co-expressing a tumor-targeting gene (anti-CD19 CAR) and a human somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (hSSTr2) reporter gene were generated from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. After direct labeling with zirconium 89 (89Zr)-p-isothiocyanatobenzyl-desferrioxamine (DFO), CAR T cells were intravenously injected into immunodeficient mice with a CD19-positive and CD19-negative human tumor xenograft on the left and right flank, respectively. PET/MRI was used for direct in vivo imaging of 89Zr-DFO-labeled CAR T cells on days 0, 1, 3, and 7 and for indirect cell imaging with the radiolabeled somatostatin receptor-targeted ligand gallium 68 (68Ga)-DOTA-Tyr3-octreotide (DOTATOC) on days 6, 9, and 13. On day 13, mice were euthanized, and tissues and tumors were excised. Results The 89Zr-DFO-labeled CAR T cells were observed on PET/MRI scans in the liver and lungs of mice (n = 4) at all time points assessed. However, they were not visualized in CD19-positive or CD19-negative tumors, even on day 7. Serial 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/MRI showed CAR T cell accumulation in CD19-positive tumors but not in CD19-negative tumors from days 6 to 13. Notably, 68Ga-DOTATOC accumulation in CD19-positive tumors was highest on day 9 (mean percentage injected dose [%ID], 3.7% ± 1.0 [SD]) and decreased on day 13 (mean %ID, 2.6% ± 0.7) in parallel with a decrease in tumor volume (day 9: mean, 195 mm3 ± 27; day 13: mean, 127 mm3 ± 43) in the group with tumor growth inhibition. Enhanced immunohistochemistry staining of cluster of differentiation 3 (CD3) and hSSTr2 was also observed in excised CD19-positive tumor tissues. Conclusion Direct and indirect cell imaging with PET/MRI enabled in vivo tracking and monitoring of CAR T cells in an animal model. © RSNA, 2024 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Bulte in this issue.

18F-ASEM PET/MRI targeting alpha7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor can reveal skeletal muscle denervation.

BACKGROUND: The increased expression of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) in muscle denervation is thought to be associated with electrophysiological acetylcholine supersensitivity after nerve injury. Hence, we investigated the utility of the 18F-ASEM alpha7-nAChR targeting radiotracer as a new diagnostic method by visualizing skeletal muscle denervation in mouse models of sciatic nerve injury. METHODS: Ten-week-old C57BL/6 male mice were utilized. The mice were anesthetized, and the left sciatic nerve was resected after splitting the gluteal muscle. One week (n = 11) and three weeks (n = 6) after the denervation, 18F-ASEM positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) was acquired. Maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) of the tibialis anterior muscle were measured for the denervated side and the control side. Autoradiographic evaluation was performed to measure the mean counts of the denervated and control tibialis anterior muscles at one week. In addition, immunohistochemistry was used to identify alpha7-nAChR-positive areas in denervated and control tibialis anterior muscles at one week (n = 6). Furthermore, a blocking study was conducted with methyllycaconitine (MLA, n = 5). RESULTS: 18F-ASEM PET/MRI showed significantly increased 18F-ASEM uptake in the denervated tibialis anterior muscle relative to the control side one week and three weeks post-denervation. SUVmax of the denervated muscles at one week and three weeks showed significantly higher uptake than the control (P = 0.0033 and 0.0277, respectively). The relative uptake by autoradiography for the denervated muscle was significantly higher than in the control, and immunohistochemistry revealed significantly greater alpha7-nAChR expression in the denervated muscle (P = 0.0277). In addition, the blocking study showed no significant 18F-ASEM uptake in the denervated side when compared to the control (P = 0.0796). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that nAChR imaging with 18F-ASEM has potential as a noninvasive diagnostic method for peripheral nervous system disorders.

Saengmaeksan, a traditional polyherbal formulation containing Panax ginseng, improves energy metabolism during exercise.

Saengmaeksan (SMS), a representative oriental medicine that contains Panax ginseng Meyer, Liriope muscari, and Schisandra chinensis (1:2:1), is used to improve body vitality and enhance physical activity. However, there is limited scientific evidence to validate the benefits of SMS. Here, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo regulatory effects of SMS and its constituents on energy metabolism and the underlying molecular mechanisms. For this, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, 3D holotomographic microscopy, western blotting, and glucose uptake experiments using 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18F-FDG) were performed using L6 cells to investigate in vitro energy metabolism changes. In addition, 18F-fluorocholine (18F-FCH) and 18F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) analyses, immunohistochemistry, and respiratory gas analysis were performed in mice post-endurance exercise on a treadmill. In the energy metabolism of L6 cells, a significant reversal in glucose uptake was observed in the SMS-treated group, as opposed to an increase in uptake over time compared to the untreated control group. Furthermore, P. ginseng alone and SMS significantly decreased the volume of lipid droplets. SMS also regulated the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), phosphorylation of p38, mitochondrial morphology, and the expression of apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1/redox factor-1 (APE/Ref-1) in H2O2-stimulated L6 cells. In addition, SMS treatment was found to regulate whole body and muscle energy metabolism in rats subjected to high-intensity exercise, as well as glucose and lipid metabolism in skeletal muscle. Therefore, SMS containing P. ginseng ameliorated imbalanced energy metabolism through oxidative stress-induced APE/Ref-1 expression. SMS may be a promising supplemental option for metabolic performance.

A Prospective Comparative Study of 18 F-FDOPA PET/CT Versus 123 I-MIBG Scintigraphy With SPECT/CT for the Diagnosis of Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performances of 18 F-FDOPA PET/CT and 123 I-MIBG scintigraphy with SPECT/CT for detection of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective, single-institution comparative study. Patients suspected of having PPGL or those showing recurrence and/or distant metastasis of PPGL were enrolled. The primary objective was to affirm the noninferiority of 18 F-FDOPA PET/CT for diagnostic sensitivity. Both 123 I-MIBG scintigraphy with SPECT/CT (at 4 and 24 hours) and 18 F-FDOPA PET/CT (at 5 and 60 minutes after radiotracer administration) were performed. The final diagnosis was established either pathologically or via clinical follow-up. Nuclear physicians, unaware of the clinical data, undertook image analysis. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were evaluated: 14 of 21 with an initial diagnosis and 9 of 11 with recurrence/metastasis had PPGLs in their final diagnoses. In patient-based analyses, 18 F-FDOPA PET/CT (95.7%) exhibited noninferior sensitivity compared with 123 I-MIBG SPECT/CT (91.3%), within the predetermined noninferiority margin of -12% by a 95% confidence interval lower limit of -10%. Both modalities showed no significant difference in specificity (88.9% vs 88.9%). In the region-based analysis for the recurrence/metastasis group, 18 F-FDOPA PET/CT demonstrated significantly higher sensitivity compared with 123 I-MIBG SPECT/CT (86.2% vs 65.5%, P = 0.031) and superior interobserver agreement (κ = 0.94 vs 0.85). The inclusion of an early phase in dual-phase 18 F-FDOPA PET/CT slightly improved diagnostic performance, albeit not to a statistically significant degree. CONCLUSIONS: 18 F-FDOPA PET/CT demonstrated noninferior sensitivity and comparable specificity to 123 I-MIBG SPECT/CT in the diagnosing PPGL. Notably, in the assessment of PPGL recurrence and metastasis, 18 F-FDOPA PET/CT outperformed 123 I-MIBG SPECT/CT in terms of both sensitivity and interobserver agreement.

Diagnostic accuracy of 18F-FP-CIT PET for clinically uncertain Parkinsonian syndrome.

18F-FP-CIT is a high-resolution imaging marker of nigrostriatal neuronal integrity, differentiating Parkinsonism with loss of dopaminergic terminals (presynaptic Parkinsonian syndrome [PS]) from Parkinsonism without nigrostriatal degeneration (non-PS). We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of 18F-FP-CIT PET in patients with clinically uncertain PS (CUPS) at the first visit. Among the 272 patients who underwent 18F-FP-CIT PET imaging at the first visit between September 2008 and July 2012, 111 had CUPS (age, 62.6 ± 10.5 y; male:female, 45:66; symptom duration, 13.1 ± 8.8 months). Uncertainty criteria included only one of the three cardinal signs of Parkinsonism, two signs without bradykinesia, or atypical signs. The baseline clinical and 18F-FP-CIT PET imaging diagnostic accuracy was compared with the accuracy of clinical diagnosis after > 2-year follow-up. Nuclear medicine physicians assessed the 18F-FP-CIT PET images visually. Focal dopamine transporter binding deficit in the posterior putamen was considered PS. Bilateral symmetric striatum without focal deficit, suggesting normal 18F-FP-CIT PET, and focal deficits elsewhere in the striatum suggesting vascular Parkinsonism were considered non-PS. Seventy-nine patients had PS, and 32 did not. Baseline clinical diagnosis included PS in 45 patients, non-PS in 24, and inconclusive in 42. Among patients in whom initial clinical diagnosis (PS or non-PS) was possible, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the baseline clinical and 18F-FP-CIT PET imaging diagnoses were 54.4, 50.0, and 53.2%, and 98.7, 100, and 99.1%, respectively. The respective positive and negative predictive values were 95.6 and 66.7%, and 100 and 97.0%. Among those with initially inconclusive diagnosis, 64.2% were eventually diagnosed with PS while 35.7% were diagnosed with non-PS. The final clinical diagnosis of these patients all matched those made by 18F-FP-CIT PET imaging, except in one patient with scan without evidence of dopaminergic deficit (SWEDD). 18F-FP-CIT PET diagnosis was more accurate than clinical diagnosis, reducing the false-negative and inconclusive clinical diagnosis rates at baseline in patients with CUPS.

A novel chalcone derivative exerts anticancer effects by promoting apoptotic cell death of human pancreatic cancer cells.

Aggressive pancreatic cancer is typically treated using chemotherapeutics to reduce the tumor pre-operatively and prevent metastasis post-operatively, as well as surgical approaches. In the present study, we synthesized a hydroxyl group-introduced chalcone derivative (1, IC50 = 32.1 µM) and investigated its potential as an anticancer drug candidate by evaluating its apoptosis-promoting effects on BXPC-3 cancer cells. The viability of BXPC-3 cells treated with 1 was measured using the water-soluble tetrazolium 1 reagent. BXPC-3 cells induced by 1 were stained with diverse probes or antibodies, such as ethidium homodimer-1, Hoechst, anti-Ki67, and MitoTracker. Protein expression was measured using an immunoblotting assay, and mRNA expression was determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Apoptotic molecular features, such as lipid accumulation and protein degradation, were monitored directly using stimulated Raman scattering microspectroscopy. Through incubation time- and concentration-dependent studies of 1, we found that it significantly reduced the proliferation and increased the number of apoptotic BXPC-3 cells. Compound 1 induced mitochondrial dysfunction, phosphorylation of p38, and caspase 3 cleavage. These results indicate that 1 is a potential therapeutic agent for pancreatic cancer, providing valuable insights into the development of new anticancer drug candidates.

[18F]THK-5351 PET Patterns in Patients With Alzheimer's Disease and Negative Amyloid PET Findings.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Alzheimer's disease (AD) does not always mean amyloid positivity. [18F]THK-5351 has been shown to be able to detect reactive astrogliosis as well as tau accompanied by neurodegenerative changes. We evaluated the [18F]THK-5351 retention patterns in positron-emission tomography (PET) and the clinical characteristics of patients clinically diagnosed with AD dementia who had negative amyloid PET findings. METHODS: We performed 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging, [18F]THK-5351 PET, and amyloid PET in 164 patients with AD dementia. Amyloid PET was visually scored as positive or negative. [18F]THK-5351 PET were visually classified as having an intratemporal or extratemporal spread pattern. RESULTS: The 164 patients included 23 (14.0%) who were amyloid-negative (age 74.9±8.3 years, mean±standard deviation; 9 males, 14 females). Amyloid-negative patients were older, had a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus, and had better visuospatial and memory functions. The frequency of the apolipoprotein E ε4 allele was higher and the hippocampal volume was smaller in amyloid-positive patients. [18F]THK-5351 uptake patterns of the amyloid-negative patients were classified into intratemporal spread (n=10) and extratemporal spread (n=13). Neuropsychological test results did not differ significantly between these two groups. The standardized uptake value ratio of [18F]THK-5351 was higher in the extratemporal spread group (2.01±0.26 vs. 1.61±0.15, p=0.001). After 1 year, Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores decreased significantly in the extratemporal spread group (-3.5±3.2, p=0.006) but not in the intratemporal spread group (-0.5±2.8, p=0.916). The diagnosis remained as AD (n=5, 50%) or changed to other diagnoses (n=5, 50%) in the intratemporal group, whereas it remained as AD (n=8, 61.5%) or changed to frontotemporal dementia (n=4, 30.8%) and other diagnoses (n=1, 7.7%) in the extratemporal spread group. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 70% of the patients with amyloid-negative AD showed abnormal [18F]THK-5351 retention. MMSE scores deteriorated rapidly in the patients with an extratemporal spread pattern.

Feasibility of 18F-Fluorocholine PET for Evaluating Skeletal Muscle Atrophy in a Starved Rat Model.

Imaging techniques for diagnosing muscle atrophy and sarcopenia remain insufficient, although various advanced diagnostic methods have been established. We explored the feasibility of 18F-fluorocholine (18F-FCH) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for evaluating skeletal muscle atrophy, as an imaging technique that tracks choline level changes in muscles. Cell uptake in L6 cells by 18F-FCH was performed in a complete medium containing serum (untreated group, UN) and a serum-free medium (starved group, ST). Small-animal-dedicated PET/CT imaging with 18F-FCH was examined in in-vivo models with rats that were starved for 2 days to cause muscle atrophy. After the hind limbs were dissected, starvation-induced in-vivo models were anatomically confirmed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction to evaluate the expression levels of the atrophy markers muscle RING-finger protein-1 (MuRF-1) and atrogin-1. 18F-FCH uptake was lower in the starvation-induced cells than in the untreated group, and in-vivo PET uptake also revealed a similar tendency (the average standardized uptake value (SUVmean) = 0.26 ± 0.06 versus 0.37 ± 0.07, respectively). Furthermore, the expression levels of MuRF-1 and atrogin-1 mRNA were significantly increased in the starvation-induced muscle atrophy of rats compared to the untreated group. 18F-FCH PET/CT may be a promising tool for diagnosing skeletal muscle atrophy.

Effects of taurine and ginseng extracts on energy metabolism during exercise and their anti-fatigue properties in mice.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Ginseng extract (GSE) and taurine (TR) are widely used antifatigue resources in functional foods. However, the mechanism underlying the antifatigue effects of GSE and TR are still unclear. Hence, we investigated whether GSE and TR have synergistic effects against fatigue in mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: L6 cells were treated with different concentrations of TR and GSE, and cell viability was determined using 2-(4-iodophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium. Oxidative stress was analyzed by immunocytochemistry using MitoTracker™ Red FM and an anti-8-oxoguanine antibody. Respiratory gas analysis was performed to investigate metabolism. Expression of an activated protein kinase was analyzed using immunohistochemistry. Gene expression of cluster of differentiation 36 and pyruvate dehydrogenase lipoamide kinase isozyme 4 was measured using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Mice were orally administered TR, GSE, or their combination for 30 days, and then fatigue-related parameters, including lactate, blood urea nitrogen, and glycogen, were measured after forced swimming. RESULTS: TR and GSE reduced oxidative stress levels in hydrogen peroxide-stimulated L6 cells and enhanced the oxygen uptake and lipid metabolism in mice after acute exercise. After oral administration of TR or GSE for 30 days, the fatigue-related parameters did not change in mice. However, the mice administered GSE (400 mg/kg/day) alone for 30 days could swim longer than those from the other groups. Further, no synergistic effect was observed after the swimming exercise in mice treated with the TR and GSE combination for 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our data suggest that TR and GSE may exert antifatigue effects in mice after acute exercise by enhancing oxygen uptake and lipid oxidation.

PET Imaging of System xC - in Immune Cells for Assessment of Disease Activity in Mice and Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

We aimed to explore whether the imaging of antiporter system xC - of immune cells with (4S)-4-(3-18F-fluoropropyl)-l-glutamate (18F-FSPG) PET can assess inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) activity in murine models and patients (NCT03546868). Methods: 18F-FSPG PET imaging was performed to assess IBD activity in mice with dextran sulfate sodium-induced and adoptive T-cell transfer-induced IBD and a cohort of 20 patients at a tertiary care center in South Korea. Immunohistochemical analysis of system xC - and cell surface markers was also studied. Results: Mice with experimental IBD showed increased intestinal 18F-FSPG uptake and xCT expression in cells positive (+) for CD11c, F4/80, and CD3 in the lamina propria, increases positively associated with clinical and pathologic disease activity. 18F-FSPG PET studies in patients, most of whom were clinically in remission or had mildly active IBD, showed that PET imaging was sufficiently accurate in diagnosing endoscopically active IBD and remission in patients and bowel segments. 18F-FSPG PET correctly identified all 9 patients with superficial or deep ulcers. Quantitative intestinal 18F-FSPG uptake was strongly associated with endoscopic indices of IBD activity. The number of CD68+xCT+ and CD3+xCT+ cells in 22 bowel segments from patients with ulcerative colitis and the number of CD68+xCT+ cells in 7 bowel segments from patients with Crohn disease showed a significant positive association with endoscopic indices of IBD activity. Conclusion: The assessment of system xC - in immune cells may provide diagnostic information on the immune responses responsible for chronic active inflammation in IBD. 18F-FSPG PET imaging of system xC - activity may noninvasively assess the IBD activity.

Potential anticancer effect of aspirin and 2'-hydroxy-2,3,5'-trimethoxychalcone-linked polymeric micelles against cervical cancer through apoptosis.

Although early diagnosis and treatment of cancers in women are achievable through continuous diagnostic tests, cervical cancer (CVC) still has a high mortality rate. In the present study, we investigated whether certain nanoparticles (NPs), comprising aspirin conjugated 2'-hydroxy-2,3,5'-trimethoxychalcone chemicals, could induce the apoptosis of cancer cells. HeLa cells were treated with NPs and the cell viability was evaluated using WST-1 assay. Protein expression of Ki-67 was measured using immunocytochemistry. In addition, the apoptotic effect of NPs was determined using TUNEL assay. To investigate the apoptosis signaling pathways, reverse transcription quantitative PCR was performed and lipid accumulation was observed via holotomographic microscopy. The IC50 value of the NPs was 4.172 µM in HeLa cells. Furthermore, 10 µM NPs significantly inhibited the cell proliferation and stimulated the apoptosis of HeLa cells. In addition, apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction were induced by the NPs through lipid accumulation in HeLa cells, leading to apoptotic signaling cascades. Taken together, the results from the present study demonstrated that the NPs developed promoted apoptosis though efficient lipid accumulation in HeLa cells, suggesting that they may provide a novel way to improve the efficacy of CVC anticancer treatment.

Smart Vitamin Micelles as Cancer Nanomedicines for Enhanced Intracellular Delivery of Doxorubicin.

Chemotherapy is one of the most effective treatments for cancer. However, intracellular delivery of many anticancer drugs is hindered by their hydrophobicity and low molecular weight. Here, we describe highly biocompatible and biodegradable amphiphilic vitamin conjugates comprising hydrophobic vitamin E and hydrophilic vitamin B labeled with dual pH and glutathione-responsive degradable linkages. Vitamin-based micelles (vitamicelles), formed by self-assembly in aqueous solutions, were optimized based on their stability after encapsulation of doxorubicin (DOX). The resulting vitamicelles have great potential as vehicles for anticancer drugs because they show excellent biocompatibility (>94% after 48 h of incubation) and rapid biodegradability (>90% after 2.5 h). Compared with free DOX, DOX-loaded vitamicelles showed a markedly enhanced anticancer effect as they released the drug rapidly and inhibited drug efflux out of cells efficiently. By exploiting these advantages, this study not only provides a promising strategy for circumventing existing challenges regarding the delivery of anticancer drugs but also extends the utility of current DOX-induced chemotherapy.

Feasibility of TSPO-Specific Positron Emission Tomography Radiotracer for Evaluating Paracetamol-Induced Liver Injury.

Macrophages are activated during the early phase of paracetamol-induced liver injury (PLI). [18F]GE180 is a radiolabeled ligand that recognizes the macrophage translocator protein (TSPO). In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of a TSPO-specific radiotracer in a rat model of PLI. A rat model of liver injury was induced by intraperitoneal administration of paracetamol. [18F]GE180 positron emission tomography (PET) images were obtained after 24 h. The maximal and mean standardized uptake values (SUVmax and SUVav) of the liver and serum biomarker levels were examined. The TSPO expression level was examined using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. [18F]GE180 hepatic uptake in the PLI group was significantly higher than that in the control group (SUVmax p = 0.001; SUVav p = 0.005). Both mRNA and protein TSPO expression levels were higher in the PLI group. The mRNA expression level of TSPO was significantly correlated with [18F]GE180 hepatic uptake in both groups (SUVmax p = 0.019; SUVav p = 0.007). [18F]GE180 hepatic uptake in the PLI group showed a significant positive correlation with ALT24 and ALT48 (ALT24 p = 0.016; ALT48p = 0.002). [18F]GE180 enabled visualization of PLI through TSPO overexpression. Our results support the potential utility of hepatic uptake by TSPO-PET as a non-invasive imaging biomarker for the early phase of PLI.

Diagnostic accuracy of dual-phase 18F-FP-CIT PET imaging for detection and differential diagnosis of Parkinsonism.

Delayed phase 18F-FP-CIT PET (dCIT) can assess the striatal dopamine transporter binding to detect degenerative parkinsonism (DP). Early phase 18F-FP-CIT (eCIT) can assess the regional brain activity for differential diagnosis among parkinsonism similar with 18F-FDG PET. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of dual phase 18F-FP-CIT PET (dual CIT) and 18F-FDG PET compared with clinical diagnosis in 141 subjects [36 with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD), 77 with multiple system atrophy (MSA), 18 with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and 10 with non-DP)]. Visual assessment of eCIT, dCIT, dual CIT, 18F-FDG and 18F-FDG PET with dCIT was in agreement with the clinical diagnosis in 61.7%, 69.5%, 95.7%, 81.6%, and 97.2% of cases, respectively. ECIT showed about 90% concordance with non-DP and MSA, and 8.3% and 27.8% with IPD and PSP, respectively. DCIT showed ≥ 88% concordance with non-DP, IPD, and PSP, and 49.4% concordance with MSA. Dual CIT showed ≥ 90% concordance in all groups. 18F-FDG PET showed ≥ 90% concordance with non-DP, MSA, and PSP, but only 33.3% concordance with IPD. The combination of 18F-FDG and dCIT yielded ≥ 90% concordance in all groups. Dual CIT may represent a powerful alternative to the combination of 18F-FDG PET and dCIT for differential diagnosis of parkinsonian disorders.

Test-retest reproducibility of dopamine transporter density measured with [18F]FP-CIT PET in patients with essential tremor and Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE: 18F-labeled fluoropropyl-carbomethoxylodopropyl-nor-ß-tropane ([18F]FP-CIT) positron emission tomography (PET) is a useful tool for evaluating disease progression in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. We evaluated the test-retest reproducibility of [18F]FP-CIT PET measures in essential tremor (ET) and PD patients. METHODS: Fifteen ET (68.9 ± 6.6 years) and 10 PD patients (70.5 ± 6.3 years; Hoehn and Yahr stage, 2.3 ± 0.8) underwent two [18F]FP-CIT PET/CT scans with an interval of 48 ± 7 day. For both the test and retest studies, standardized uptake value ratios were estimated for 90-min and 3-h acquisitions for the caudate, anterior putamen, and posterior putamen using T1-MRI-based normalization (automatic) and fixed-VOI (manual) methods, with the occipital lobe as a reference. Reproducibility was evaluated by the bias, variability, percent test-retest, within-subject coefficient of variation, repeatability coefficient, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). RESULTS: Reproducibility was excellent, with low variability (ET: 6.99-8.02%, PD: 3.51-6.94%) and high reliability (ICC; ET: 0.88-0.96, PD: 0.98-0.99). The ET group showed higher variability and lower ICCs than the PD group. The variability in the 90-min images (ET: 7.85-8.59%, PD: 1.52-2.75%) was comparable to that in the 3-h images (ET: 6.99-8.02%, PD: 3.51-6.94%). There were no differences in variability among the subregions in the ET group. In the PD group, the variability was high in the posterior putamen (automatic method: 6.94%, manual method: 11.80%). The test-retest variability and ICCs were similar for the manual and automatic methods. CONCLUSION: [18F]FP-CIT PET is reproducible for the quantitative measurement of DAT binding in both ET and PD individuals, independent of the acquisition time or analysis method. Also, the automatic method is more suitable for evaluating early loss of DAT binding in patients with PD.