Table 1.
A Summary of Agents and Their Potential Mechanisms of Uptake Applicable to VI Imaging
| Agent | Potential Mechanism of Uptake |
|---|---|
| 18F-FLT (62) | Structural analogue of thymidine, images DNA synthesis within atheroma |
| 11C-PK11195 (63) | Affinity for translocator protein (TSPO), upregulated on inflammatory cells |
| 18F-A85380 (64) | Binds arterial nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), possibly related to vascular damage |
| 18F-choline (65) | Images increased cell wall synthesis within atheroma |
| 68Ga-DOTA-octreotate (60) | Affinity for somatostatin receptors, which are highly expressed on macrophages |
| 64Cu-ATSM (66) | Trapped within cells in hypoxic state |
| 18F-MISO (67) | Trapped within cells in hypoxic state |
| 68Ga-NOTA-RGD (68) | Images neoangiogenesis as a result of hypoxia or chronic inflammation |
| 64Cu-DOTA-CANF (69) | Images angioneogenesis via natriuretic peptide receptor affinity |
| 18F-FDG | A glucose analogue imaging increased metabolic rate in the presence of inflammation and hypoxia |
| 18F-sodium fluoride (59) | Images active calcification as a result of necrosis or inflammation |
| 68Ga-CXCR4 (70) | Images CXCR4 receptor expressed by inflammatory cells |
| 18F-florbetapen (61) | Imaging β-amyloid plaque as a component of inflammation |
11C-PK11195 = carbon 111-(2-chlorophenyl)-N-methyl-N-(1-methylpropyl)-3-isoquinolinecarboxamide; 18F = fluorine 18; 64Cu = copper 64; 68Ga = gallium 68; A85380 = 3-([2S]-Azetidinylmethoxy)pyridine dihydrochloride; ATSM = diacetyl-bis(N-methylthiosemicarbazone; CXCR4 = C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4; DOTA-CANF = 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid atrial natriuretic factor; FDG = fluorodeoxyglucose; FLT = fluorothymidine; MISO = fluoromisonidazole; NOTA-RGD = 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-N, N′, N″-triacetic acid arginine-glycine-aspartate.