Molecular imaging in transplantation: basic concepts and strategies for potential application.
BACKGROUND
The potential applications of molecular imaging in the clinical arena are diverse and expanding rapidly. One such area of application is transplantation. Currently, biopsy is the gold standard for monitoring allograft well-being after transplantation of organs or tissues. However, biopsies are invasive, associated with morbidity if performed on a routine basis and can potentially miss focal rejection.


OBJECTIVE
It is notable that none of the existing studies in the literature have examined the possible role of molecular imaging in transplantation-related indications. In this direction, this paper aims to discuss imaging strategies that could be of pertinence in monitoring immune events and improving long-term outcomes after solid organ or tissue transplantation.


METHODS
This paper discusses the currently available direct/surrogate imaging techniques/agents that can be used to detect chemokine receptors/ligands, leucocyte endothelial events and ischaemia-reperfusion injury in transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
Molecular imaging methods can non-invasively detect, quantify and monitor immune phenomena, such as rejection or graft-versus-host disease, after transplantation. Molecular imaging could help in targeted biopsy and could improve graft survival by allowing for early intervention with tailored immunosuppressive regimens. Given the unprecedented progress in the field, the potential benefits of molecular imaging to the speciality of organ and tissue transplantation cannot be underestimated.
Kanderi
Tanuja
T
Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. tkanderi@bcm.tmc.edu
Moore
Warren H
WH
Wendt
Julie A
JA
D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000276:immunology*; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000379:methods; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D014181:Transplantation Immunology / Q000276:immunology; D023001:Transplantation Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*