Imaging inflammation in atherosclerotic plaques, targeting SST₂ with [¹¹¹In]In-DOTA-JR11

Area of Science:

• Radiopharmaceutical chemistry
• Molecular imaging
• Cardiovascular research

Background:

• Somatostatin subtype receptor 2 (SST2) imaging aids plaque detection.
• DOTA-JR11 exhibits higher tumor uptake than DOTATATE.
• Improved plaque imaging is sought.

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate DOTA-JR11 for atherosclerotic plaque detection.
• Assess DOTA-JR11's targeting and uptake in plaques.

Main Methods:

• SPECT/CT imaging of atherosclerotic ApoE-/- mice injected with [111In]In-DOTA-JR11.
• Ex vivo and post-mortem analysis of arterial plaque uptake.
• Histological and autoradiographic validation in mouse and human samples.

Main Results:

• [111In]In-DOTA-JR11 showed clear in vivo plaque uptake in mice (TBR 2.23).
• Ex vivo and post-mortem scans confirmed high plaque uptake (TBRs up to 3.43).
• Uptake correlated with macrophages (CD68) and SST2 expression in human carotid plaques.

Conclusions:

• DOTA-JR11 demonstrates significant potential for visualizing atherosclerotic plaque inflammation.
• This radioligand offers improved plaque detection capabilities.
• Further research into DOTA-JR11 for cardiovascular imaging is warranted.