Imaging of human infection with (131)I-labeled recombinant human interleukin-8.
The chemotactic cytokine interleukin-8 (IL-8) plays an important role in attraction and activation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in infection and inflammation. A pilot study was conducted to determine if radiolabeled IL-8 would depict infection in humans.


METHODS
Human recombinant IL-8 (rhIL-8) labeled with (131)I (specific activity, 0.4-0.7 MBq [11-18 microCi] (131)I/microg IL-8) was injected intravenously into 8 diabetic patients with active foot infections and evidence of osteomyelitis, 2 patients with successfully treated osteomyelitis, and 1 patient with cellulitis of the thumb.


RESULTS
Focal accumulation of (131)I-rhIL-8 was seen in 8 of 8 patients with active foot infection and diffuse uptake was seen in the thumb of the 1 patient with cellulitis. In the 2 patients with successfully treated bone infection, multiphase (99m)Tc-hydroxyethylene diphosphonate bone scans were negative early, but late-phase (>3 h) uptake depicted degenerative lesions that did not image with (131)I-rhIL-8.


CONCLUSIONS
(131)I-rhIL-8 accumulates rapidly within infected foci in osteomyelitis and cellulitis but not in successfully treated infections or degenerative joint disease.
Gross
M D
MD
Nuclear Medicine Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Health System, Ann Arbor 48105, USA.
Shapiro
B
B
Fig
L M
LM
Steventon
R
R
Skinner
R W
RW
Hay
R V
RV
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007239:Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D016209:Interleukin-8; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D011994:Recombinant Proteins