title: Molecular scintigraphic imaging using 99mTc-transferrin is useful for early detection of synovial inflammation of collagen-induced arthritis mouse.
abstract: Transferrin receptor (TfR) is highly expressed on rapidly dividing inflammatory cells, but not in nonproliferating cells. We investigated whether scintigraphic imaging using 99mTechnetium-radiolabeled transferrin (99mTc-Tf) is useful for early detection of synovial inflammation of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse. 99mTc-Tf conjugate was synthesized to target the TfR in inflamed synovium. 99mTc-Tf scintigraphic images were obtained in nonarthritic normal mouse and advanced phase of CIA mouse. 99mTc-Tf and 99mTc-methylenediphosphonate (99mTc-MDP) bone scintigraphic images were obtained in same early phase of CIA mouse. Western blot analysis, hematoxylin & eosin (H&E), and immunohistochemical staining were performed to determine development of arthritis and expression of TfR. Image analyses revealed that the uptake of 99mTc-Tf in inflamed joints of advanced phase of CIA mouse was markedly higher than those by normal nonarthritic mouse. 99mTc-Tf scintigraphy also showed higher uptake in knee joint prior to significant joint swelling in early phase of CIA mouse but 99mTc-MDP bone scintigraphy does not. These scintigraphic findings are well correlated with the results of Western blot, H&E and immunohistochemical analysis. In conclusion, TfR can be used as a specific target for molecular imaging in CIA mouse, and 99mTc-Tf scintigraphy detects synovial inflammation prior to significant clinical findings in CIA mouse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eun-Mi
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Se Lim
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chang-Moon
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyu Yun
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Hee Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Wan-Hee
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Myung-Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: Hwan-Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jeong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006614:Hindlimb; D007596:Joints / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism; D013585:Synovitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013667:Technetium
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D013667:Technetium