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Erschienen in:
01.04.2006 | Original article
Synthesis of 99mTc-HYNIC-interleukin-12, a new specific radiopharmaceutical for imaging T lymphocytes
Erschienen in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging | Ausgabe 4/2006
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Purpose
Few radiopharmaceuticals have been described for the study of lymphocyte trafficking despite its high clinical relevance. The main difficulty resides in the identification of a suitable highly specific probe to target these cells. Interleukin-12 (IL12) is a heterodimeric cytokine which plays a key role in the development of Th1 lymphocytes. The aims of the present study were to label IL12 with 99mTc, to evaluate its ability to bind to activated T lymphocytes in vitro and to study its biodistribution in normal mice and mice affected by autoimmune colitis.
Methods
IL12 was derivatised with HYNIC-NHS and labelled with 99mTc. An in vitro binding assay was performed on KIT225 cells, an IL12 receptor-positive cell line. 99mTc-IL12 biodistribution in normal mice was studied. Targeting experiments were performed in Balb/c mice injected with KIT225 cells and in mice with chemically induced chronic colitis.
Results
99mTc-IL12 labelling efficiency ranged between 75% and 85%. Saturation binding analysis revealed a K
d of 2.09 nM. Results of biodistribution studies showed a predominant hepatic route of excretion. A significant degree of uptake in the spleen and thymus was also observed. In mice injected with KIT225 cells, 99mTc-IL12-specific uptake in these cells increased over time. 99mTc-IL12 also accumulated significantly in bowel of mice affected by TNBS-induced colitis showing T lymphocyte infiltration at histology, while accumulation in colon from control animals was negligible.
Conclusion
We conclude that this radiolabelled cytokine is a suitable candidate for specific in vivo imaging of T lymphocytes: a step forward in molecular imaging of immune-mediated processes.