Targeted imaging of pulmonary fibrosis by a cyclic peptide LyP-1

Jing Li ^1,2,3, Rui Shu ¹, Tian Peng ¹

¹School of Basic Medical Science, Medical Science Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
²Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
³State Key Laboratory of New Targets Discovery and Drug Development for Serious Diseases, Gannan Innovation and Translational Medicine Research Institute, Ganzhou, China.
⁴Department of Neurosurgery, Huanggang Central Hospital, Huanggang, Hubei, China.
⁵School of Basic Medical Science, Medical Science Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. lihl@whu.edu.cn.
⁶Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. lihl@whu.edu.cn.
⁷State Key Laboratory of New Targets Discovery and Drug Development for Serious Diseases, Gannan Innovation and Translational Medicine Research Institute, Ganzhou, China. lihl@whu.edu.cn.
⁸School of Basic Medical Science, Medical Science Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. zhangxjing@whu.edu.cn.
⁹State Key Laboratory of New Targets Discovery and Drug Development for Serious Diseases, Gannan Innovation and Translational Medicine Research Institute, Ganzhou, China. zhangxjing@whu.edu.cn.
¹⁰School of Basic Medical Science, Medical Science Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. zhangejuan@whu.edu.cn.
¹¹Department of Infectious Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. zhangejuan@whu.edu.cn.

⁰School of Basic Medical Science, Medical Science Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.

Scientific Reports +

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March 8, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Researchers developed a novel PET/CT imaging tracer, [68Ga]Ga-LyP-1, for detecting pulmonary fibrosis (PF). This tracer specifically targets fibrotic lung tissue, offering improved diagnostic potential for this chronic lung disease.

Area Of Science

Biomedical Imaging
Radiochemistry
Pulmonary Medicine

Background

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a progressive lung disease causing respiratory failure.
Current diagnostic methods lack precise, noninvasive tracers for fibrotic lesions.
Early and accurate detection of PF is crucial for timely treatment.

Purpose Of The Study

To identify and evaluate a specific and sensitive tracer for detecting pulmonary fibrosis using PET/CT imaging.
To assess the targeting capability and specificity of the cyclic peptide LyP-1 for fibrotic lung tissue.

Main Methods

Identification of LyP-1 as a potential tracer for PF.
In vitro validation using FITC-LyP-1 to assess recognition of fibrotic regions and collagen I.
In vivo evaluation of radiolabeled [68Ga]Ga-LyP-1 in a bleomycin-induced PF mouse model using PET/CT imaging.

Main Results

FITC-LyP-1 selectively recognized fibrotic regions in PF mice, colocalizing with extracellular collagen I.
Radiolabeled [68Ga]Ga-LyP-1 demonstrated significantly increased lung uptake in PF mice, specifically in fibrotic areas.
PET/CT imaging with [68Ga]Ga-LyP-1 indicated detection of fibrous changes rather than inflammatory cells, differentiating it from CT imaging.

Conclusions

The novel radiotracer [68Ga]Ga-LyP-1 specifically detects extracellular matrix in fibrotic lungs.
LyP-1 shows significant promise as a noninvasive tracer for assessing pulmonary fibrosis.
This tracer could lead to improved diagnostic accuracy and timely intervention for patients with PF.

Keywords:

LyP-1 Non-invasive imaging Peptide Positron emission tomography Pulmonary fibrosis Tracer