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Updated: Jan 21, 2026

Caspase-3 Activity in the Rat Amygdala Measured by Spectrofluorometry After Myocardial Infarction
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Molecular Imaging of Fibroblast Activity After Myocardial Infarction Using a 68Ga-Labeled Fibroblast Activation

Zohreh Varasteh1, Sarajo Mohanta2,3, Stephanie Robu4

  • 1Department of Nuclear Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar der TUM, Munich, Germany zohreh.varasteh@tum.de.

Journal of Nuclear Medicine : Official Publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine
|August 14, 2019
PubMed

Insights

New PET imaging using 68Ga-FAPI-04 effectively visualizes activated fibroblasts after myocardial infarction (MI). This tracer shows potential for monitoring cardiac remodeling and improving patient management following heart attacks.

Area of Science:

  • Nuclear Medicine
  • Cardiovascular Imaging
  • Radiochemistry

Background:

  • Heart failure is a significant complication following myocardial infarction (MI).
  • Activated fibroblasts in the injured heart influence cardiac remodeling post-MI.
  • Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP) is a marker of activated fibroblasts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the feasibility of using a novel 68Ga-labeled FAP inhibitor (68Ga-FAPI-04) for PET imaging of fibroblast activation.
  • To evaluate 68Ga-FAPI-04 as a tool for monitoring cardiac remodeling after MI in a preclinical model.

Main Methods:

  • Myocardial infarction (MI) and sham-operated rats underwent 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT scans at multiple time points post-MI.
  • Comparative 18F-FDG PET/CT scans were performed 3 days after MI.
  • Ex vivo analyses included autoradiography, H&E staining, and immunofluorescence on harvested heart tissues.

Main Results:

  • 68Ga-FAPI-04 uptake in the injured myocardium peaked at 6 days post-MI.
  • Tracer accumulation was concentrated in the MI border zone, correlating with FAP-positive myofibroblast presence.
  • Blocking studies demonstrated specific uptake, with minimal off-target accumulation.

Conclusions:

  • 68Ga-FAPI-04 is a promising radiotracer for noninvasive in vivo imaging of post-MI fibroblast activation.
  • This imaging approach may offer significant diagnostic and prognostic value for managing patients after MI.
  • Monitoring activated fibroblasts could enhance understanding and treatment of cardiac remodeling.

Keywords:
PETcardiac remodelingfibroblast activation proteinmolecular imagingmyocardial infarction

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