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Fluorescence-mediated Tomography for the Detection and Quantification of Macrophage-related Murine Intestinal Inflammation
Published on: December 15, 2017
18F-FDG PET imaging for identifying the dynamics of intestinal disease caused by SFTSV infection in a mouse model
Daisuke Hayasaka1,2, Kodai Nishi3, Takeshi Fuchigami4
1Department of Virology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan.
Abstract:
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging disease that causes fever, enteritis, thrombocytopenia, and leucopenia and can be fatal in up to 30% of cases. However, the mechanism of severe disease is not fully understood. Molecular imaging approaches, such as positron-emission tomography (PET), are functional in vivo imaging techniques that provide real-time dynamics of disease progression, assessments of pharmacokinetics, and diagnoses for disease progression. Molecular imaging also potentially provides useful approaches to explore the pathogenesis of viral infections. Thus, the purpose of this study was to image the pathological features of SFTSV infection in vivo by PET imaging. In a mouse model, we showed that 18F-FDG accumulations clearly identified the intestinal tract site as a pathological site. We also demonstrated that 18F-FDG PET imaging can assess disease progression and response to antiserum therapy within the same individual. This is the first report demonstrating a molecular imaging strategy for SFTSV infection. Our results provide potentially useful information for preclinical studies such as the elucidation of the mechanism of SFTSV infection in vivo and the assessment of drugs for SFTS treatment.
Insights
Positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging identified the intestinal tract as a pathological site in Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS). This molecular imaging approach can track disease progression and evaluate treatment effectiveness in vivo.
Area of Science:
- Medical imaging
- Infectious diseases
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease with high fatality rates.
- The precise mechanisms driving severe SFTS disease progression remain incompletely understood.
- Molecular imaging techniques like PET offer in vivo insights into disease dynamics and pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To utilize Positron-Emission Tomography (PET) imaging to visualize and characterize pathological features of SFTS Virus (SFTSV) infection in vivo.
- To establish a molecular imaging strategy for studying SFTSV pathogenesis and evaluating therapeutic interventions.
Main Methods:
- Employing a mouse model of SFTSV infection.
- Utilizing 18F-FDG PET imaging to detect metabolic activity and identify pathological sites.
- Assessing disease progression and response to antiserum therapy using serial PET scans.
Main Results:
- 18F-FDG accumulation on PET scans specifically highlighted the intestinal tract as a key pathological site in SFTSV-infected mice.
- PET imaging successfully monitored disease progression within individual animals.
- The efficacy of antiserum therapy in mitigating disease progression was visualized via PET.
Conclusions:
- 18F-FDG PET imaging is a viable molecular imaging strategy for SFTSV infection.
- This technique can effectively identify SFTSV-related pathology in vivo, particularly in the intestinal tract.
- PET imaging provides a valuable tool for preclinical research, aiding in understanding SFTSV pathogenesis and assessing potential treatments.
