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An Z, Sun Y, Yang X, Zhou J, Yu Y, Zhang B, Xu Z, Zhu Y, Wang G. Enhanced expression of miR-20a driven by nanog exacerbated the degradation of extracellular matrix in thoracic aortic dissection. Noncoding RNA Res 2024; 9:1040-1049. [PMID: 39022686 PMCID: PMC11254500 DOI: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2024.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) is a life-threatening vascular disease manifested as intramural bleeding in the medial layers of the thoracic aorta. The key histopathologic feature of TAD is medial degeneration, characterized by depletion of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM). MicroRNA, as essential epigenetic regulators, can inhibit the protein expression of target genes without modifying the sequences. This study aimed to elucidate the role and underlying mechanism of miR-20a, a member of the miR-17-92 cluster, in regulating ECM degradation during the pathogenesis of TAD. The expression of the miR-17-92 cluster was significantly increased in synthetic VSMCs derived from TAD lesions compared to contractile VSMCs isolated from normal thoracic aortas. Notably, the expression of miR-20a was increased in VSMCs in response to serum exposure and various stimuli. In TAD lesions, the expression of miR-20a was significantly negatively correlated with that of elastin. Elevated expression of miR-20a was also observed in thoracic aortas of TAD mice induced by β-aminopropionitrile fumarate and angiotensin II. Overexpression of miR-20a via mimic transfection enhanced the growth and invasive capabilities of VSMCs, with no significant impact on their migratory activity or the expression of phenotypic markers (α-SMA, SM22, and OPN). Silencing of miR-20a with inhibitor transfection mitigated the hyperactivation of MMP2 in VSMCs stimulated by PDGF-bb, as evidenced by reduced levels of active-MMP2 and increased levels of pro-MMP2. Subsequently, TIMP2 was identified as a novel target gene of miR-20a. The role of miR-20a in promoting the activation of MMP2 was mediated by the suppression of TIMP2 expression in VSMCs. In addition, the elevated expression of miR-20a was found to be directly driven by Nanog in VSMCs. Collectively, these findings indicate that miR-20a plays a crucial role in maintaining the homeostasis of the thoracic aortic wall during TAD pathogenesis and may represent a potential therapeutic target for TAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao An
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Yangyong Sun
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Xiaodong Yang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingwen Zhou
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Yongchao Yu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Boyao Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Zhiyun Xu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Yuming Zhu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Guokun Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
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Leng C, Hua C, Lin M, Ding X, Qin Y, Zhang M, Jin S, Li L, Yao S, Xie B, Lu X, Cai Q. Myocardial work by pressure-strain loop is associated with molecular imaging of fibroblast activation in hypertensive hearts using 99mTc-HFAPI SPECT. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING 2024:10.1007/s10554-024-03183-y. [PMID: 38995412 DOI: 10.1007/s10554-024-03183-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
99mTc-HFAPI can visualize fibroblast activation in hypertensive hearts. Myocardial work (MW) reflects the cardiac mechanical properties after accounting for the afterload in hypertensive patients. We investigated whether MW was associated with increased uptake of 99mTc-HFAPI. A total of 97 hypertensive patients and 41 healthy volunteers were prospectively recruited. Global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global wasted work (GWW) and global work efficiency (GWE) were analyzed. According to whether myocardial uptake of FAPI was higher than the adjacent blood pool, hypertensive patients were divided into two groups, namely: FAPI + and FAPI- group, respectively. GWI, GCW and GWE of the FAPI + group were lower than the FAPI- group. The value of GWW in the FAPI + group was higher than in the FAPI- group. Multiple regression analyses revealed GWI, GWW and GWE were independently associated with early myocardial fibrosis. According to receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis, the best cutoff points for FAPI + of GWI, GWW and GWE were 1968.50 mmHg% (AUC: 0.687, 95% CI: 0.581-0.793, P = 0.002), 133.00 mmHg% (AUC: 0.778, 95% CI: 0.688-0.869, P < 0.001) and 95.07% (AUC: 0.813, 95% CI: 0.730-0.896, P < 0.001), respectively. GWI, GWW and GWE were impaired in hypertensive patients with cardiac 99mTc-HFAPI uptake and were associated with fibroblast activation in hypertensive hearts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenlei Leng
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Cuncun Hua
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Imaging Center, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Mingming Lin
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xueyan Ding
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yunyun Qin
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Miao Zhang
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shan Jin
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Lina Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Su Yao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Boqia Xie
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Imaging Center, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
| | - Xiuzhang Lu
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
| | - Qizhe Cai
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
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Wei Z, Xu H, Chen B, Wang J, Yang X, Yang MF, Zhao S. Early detection of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity using [ 68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 imaging. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2024; 51:2204-2215. [PMID: 38491214 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-024-06673-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity (AIC), whose major manifestation is diffuse myocardial fibrosis, is an important clinical problem in cancer therapy. Therefore, early identification and treatment are clinically important. This study aims to explore the feasibility of using 68 Ga-labelled fibroblast activation protein (FAP) inhibitor ([68 Ga]Ga-FAPI) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for the early identification of the fibrotic process and guidance of antifibrosis therapy in AIC. METHODS An AIC rat model was induced by the intravascular administration of doxorubicin (DOX) once per week for 1, 2, 3 and 6 weeks (2.5 mg/kg/injection, groups 1-4), whereas intravascular saline was administered to control rats. Experimental and control groups (n = 4) underwent [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI PET/CT following disease induction. Groups 5 and 6 received DOX injections for 3 and 6 weeks, treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor starting at 3 weeks, treated with enalapril (20 mg/kg, gastric gavage) daily and underwent echocardiography and [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI PET/CT at 3 weeks after treatment. Rat hearts were subjected to haematoxylin and eosin staining, FAP immunohistochemistry, Sirius red staining and Masson's trichrome staining to investigate the pathological changes and deposition of collagen fibres. Rat blood was sampled weekly for the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of various markers of myocardial injury, such as plasma cardiac troponin I, B-type natriuretic peptide and angiotensin II. RESULTS [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 uptake by the heart was significantly higher in the cardiotoxicity group than in the control group at weeks 3 (SUVmax: 1.21 ± 0.23 vs 0.67 ± 0.01, P < 0.05) and 6 (SUVmax: 1.48 ± 0.28 vs 0.67 ± 0.08, P < 0.001), whereas left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) did not significantly differ between normal and AIC rats at week 3. FAP+ expression began to increase starting at week 3, before irreversible fibrotic changes were detected, until week 6. After 3 weeks of enalapril treatment, [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 accumulation decreased in groups 5 and 6 (SUVmax decreased from 1.21 ± 0.23 to 0.77 ± 0.08 and 1.48 ± 0.28 to 1.09 ± 1.06, P < 0.05). Cardiac function was preserved (LVEF was 75.7% ± 7.38% in group 3 vs 74.5% ± 2.45% in group 5, P > 0.05) and improved (LVEF increased from 51.6% ± 9.03% in group 4 to 65.2% ± 4.27% in group 6, P < 0.05), and myocardial fibrosis attenuated (from 6.5% ± 1.2% in group 4 to 4.31% ± 0.37% in group 6, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI PET/CT can be used for the early detection of active myocardial fibrosis in AIC and the evaluation of the efficacy of therapeutic interventions. Early treatment guided by [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI PET/CT may reduce anthracycline-induced myocardial injury and improve heart function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuxin Wei
- Department of MRI, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beilishi Rd 167, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Hongchuang Xu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Xishiku Rd 8, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100034, China
| | - Bixi Chen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 8Th Gongtinanlu Rd, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Jiaxin Wang
- Department of MRI, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beilishi Rd 167, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Xing Yang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Xishiku Rd 8, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100034, China.
- Department of Central Laboratory, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China.
| | - Min-Fu Yang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 8Th Gongtinanlu Rd, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100020, China.
| | - Shihua Zhao
- Department of MRI, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beilishi Rd 167, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100037, China.
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Li T, Liu Y, Dai M, Zhao X, Han J, Zhang Z, Jing F, Tian W, Zhang J, Zhao X, Wang J, Hao T, Wang T. Value of Semi-Quantitative Parameters of 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT in Primary Malignant and Benign Diseases: A Comparison with 18F-FDG. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 2024. [PMID: 38808470 DOI: 10.1089/cbr.2024.0026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives: We aimed to compare the value of the semiquantitative parameters of 68Ga-labeled FAP inhibitor (68Ga-FAPI)-04 positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) in diagnosing primary malignant and benign diseases. Materials and Methods: 18F-FDG and 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT images of 80 patients were compared. Semiquantitative parameters, including maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), mean SUV (SUVmean), peak SUV (SUVpeak), peak SUV by lean body mass (SULpeak), metabolic tumor volume (or tumor volume of FAPI; FAPI-TV), and TLG (or total lesion activity of FAPI; FAPI-TLA), were automatically obtained using the IntelliSpace Portal image processing workstation with a threshold of 40% SUVmax. The liver blood pool was measured as the background, and the tumor-to-background ratio (TBRliver) was calculated. Results: In all malignant lesions, FAPI-TV and FAPI-TLA were higher in 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT than in 18F-FDG. In the subgroup analysis, 68Ga-FAPI-04 had higher FAPI-TV and FAPI-TLA and lower SUVmax than 18F-FDG had in group A, including gynecological tumor, esophageal, and colorectal cancers. However, six semiquantitative parameters were higher in group B (the other malignant tumors). For the benign diseases, SUVmax, SUVmean, SUVpeak, and SULpeak were lower in 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT than in 18F-FDG. 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT showed a lower liver background and a higher TBRliver than 18F-FDG did. 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT had higher accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity than 18F-FDG had. Conclusion: More accurate semiquantitative parameters and lower abdominal background in 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT make it more competitive in the differential diagnosis of malignant and benign diseases than in 18F-FDG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyue Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Drug Resistance, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yunuan Liu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Meng Dai
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xiujuan Zhao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Jingya Han
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Zhaoqi Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Fenglian Jing
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Weiwei Tian
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Jingmian Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Drug Resistance, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xinming Zhao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Drug Resistance, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Jianfang Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Tiancheng Hao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Tingting Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
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Lin K, Shi D, Wang A, Ge J, Cheng D, Yan Y. Noninvasive Monitoring of Early Cardiac Fibrosis in Diabetic Mice by [ 68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT Imaging. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:17195-17203. [PMID: 38645332 PMCID: PMC11024947 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c10061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis represents one of the representative pathological characteristics in the diabetic heart. Active fibroblasts play an essential role in the progression of cardiac fibrosis. The technologies for noninvasive monitoring of activated fibroblasts still have to be investigated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of targeted fibroblast activation protein (FAP) molecular imaging in the early evaluation of diabetic cardiac fibrosis using [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT. PET/CT imaging was conducted in db/db mice and db/m mice at weeks 12 and 24. Diabetic heart injury was determined using echocardiography and serum biomarkers. Additionally, the levels of cardiac fibrosis were also assessed. In our study, conventional diagnostic modalities, including echocardiography and serum biomarkers, failed to monitor early-stage cardiac dysfunction and fibrosis in diabetic mice. Conversely, the results of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging demonstrated that diabetic mice had increased myocardial uptake of radioactive tracers in both early-stage and late-stage diabetes, consistent with the elevated FAP expression and increased cardiac fibrosis level. Notably, cardiac PET signals exhibited significant correlations with left ventricular ejection fractions, the E/A ratio, and the level of serum TGF-β1, PIIINP, and sST2. The results demonstrated the potential of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging for visualizing activated fibroblasts and detecting early-stage diabetic heart injury and fibrosis noninvasively. They also demonstrated the clinical superiority of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging over echocardiography and serum biomarkers in the early monitoring of diabetes-related cardiac dysfunction and fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaibin Lin
- Department
of Cardiology, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Dai Shi
- Department
of Nuclear Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Shanghai
Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai 200032, China
- Institute
of Nuclear Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Cancer
Prevention and Treatment Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Ai Wang
- Department
of Cardiology, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Junbo Ge
- Department
of Cardiology, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Dengfeng Cheng
- Department
of Nuclear Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Shanghai
Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai 200032, China
- Institute
of Nuclear Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Cancer
Prevention and Treatment Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yan Yan
- Department
of Cardiology, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
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Telli T, Hosseini A, Settelmeier S, Kersting D, Kessler L, Weber WA, Rassaf T, Herrmann K, Varasteh Z. Imaging of Cardiac Fibrosis: How Far Have We Moved From Extracellular to Cellular? Semin Nucl Med 2024:S0001-2998(24)00025-4. [PMID: 38493001 DOI: 10.1053/j.semnuclmed.2024.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Myocardial fibrosis plays an important role in adverse outcomes such as heart failure and arrhythmias. As the pathological response and degree of scarring, and therefore clinical presentation varies from patient to patient, early detection of fibrosis is crucial for identifying the appropriate treatment approach and forecasting the progression of a disease along with the likelihood of disease-related mortality. Current imaging modalities provides information about either decreased function or extracellular signs of fibrosis. Targeting activated fibroblasts represents a burgeoning approach that could offer insights prior to observable functional alterations, presenting a promising focus for potential anti-fibrotic therapeutic interventions at cellular level. In this article, we provide an overview of imaging cardiac fibrosis and discuss the role of different advanced imaging modalities with the focus on novel non-invasive imaging of activated fibroblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tugce Telli
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Atefeh Hosseini
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Stephan Settelmeier
- Westgerman Heart- and Vascular Center, Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - David Kersting
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Lukas Kessler
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany; Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang A Weber
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Tienush Rassaf
- Westgerman Heart- and Vascular Center, Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Ken Herrmann
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Zohreh Varasteh
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany; Department of Nuclear Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.
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Strunk M, Heo GS, Hess A, Luehmann H, Ross TL, Gropler RJ, Bengel FM, Liu Y, Thackeray JT. Toward Quantitative Multisite Preclinical Imaging Studies in Acute Myocardial Infarction: Evaluation of the Immune-Fibrosis Axis. J Nucl Med 2024; 65:287-293. [PMID: 38176717 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.123.266526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The immune-fibrosis axis plays a critical role in cardiac remodeling after acute myocardial infarction. Imaging approaches to monitor temporal inflammation and fibroblast activation in mice have seen wide application in recent years. However, the repeatability of quantitative measurements remains challenging, particularly across multiple imaging centers. We aimed to determine reproducibility of quantitative inflammation and fibroblast activation images acquired at 2 facilities after myocardial infarction in mice. Methods: Mice underwent coronary artery ligation and sequential imaging with 68Ga-DOTA-ECL1i to assess chemokine receptor type 2 expression at 3 d after myocardial infarction and 68Ga-FAPI-46 to assess fibroblast activation protein expression at 7 d after myocardial infarction. Images were acquired at 1 center using either a local or a consensus protocol developed with the second center; the protocols differed in the duration of isoflurane anesthesia and the injected tracer dose. A second group of animals were scanned at the second site using the consensus protocol. Image analyses performed by each site and just by 1 site were also compared. Results: The uptake of 68Ga-DOTA-ECL1i in the infarct territory tended to be higher when the consensus protocol was used (P = 0.03). No difference was observed between protocol acquisitions for 68Ga-FAPI-46. Compared with the local protocol, the consensus protocol decreased variability between individual animals. When a matched consensus protocol was used, the 68Ga-DOTA-ECL1i infarct territory percentage injected dose per gram of tissue was higher on images acquired at site B than on those acquired at site A (P = 0.006). When normalized to body weight as SUV, this difference was mitigated. Both the percentage injected dose per gram of tissue and the SUV were comparable between sites for 68Ga-FAPI-46. Image analyses at the sites differed significantly, but this difference was mitigated when all images were analyzed at site A. Conclusion: The application of a standardized acquisition protocol may lower variability within datasets and facilitate comparison of molecular radiotracer distribution between preclinical imaging centers. Like clinical studies, multicenter preclinical studies should use centralized core-based image analysis to maximize reproducibility across sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Strunk
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; and
| | - Gyu Seong Heo
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Annika Hess
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; and
| | - Hannah Luehmann
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Tobias L Ross
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; and
| | - Robert J Gropler
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Frank M Bengel
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; and
| | - Yongjian Liu
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - James T Thackeray
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; and
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8
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Gehris J, Ervin C, Hawkins C, Womack S, Churillo AM, Doyle J, Sinusas AJ, Spinale FG. Fibroblast activation protein: Pivoting cancer/chemotherapeutic insight towards heart failure. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 219:115914. [PMID: 37956895 PMCID: PMC10824141 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
An important mechanism for cancer progression is degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) which is accompanied by the emergence and proliferation of an activated fibroblast, termed the cancer associated fibroblast (CAF). More specifically, an enzyme pathway identified to be amplified with local cancer progression and proliferation of the CAF, is fibroblast activation protein (FAP). The development and progression of heart failure (HF) irrespective of the etiology is associated with left ventricular (LV) remodeling and changes in ECM structure and function. As with cancer, HF progression is associated with a change in LV myocardial fibroblast growth and function, and expresses a protein signature not dissimilar to the CAF. The overall goal of this review is to put forward the postulate that scientific discoveries regarding FAP in cancer as well as the development of specific chemotherapeutics could be pivoted to target the emergence of FAP in the activated fibroblast subtype and thus hold translationally relevant diagnostic and therapeutic targets in HF.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Gehris
- Cell Biology and Anatomy and Cardiovascular Research Center, University of South Carolina School of Medicine and the Columbia VA Health Care System, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Charlie Ervin
- Cell Biology and Anatomy and Cardiovascular Research Center, University of South Carolina School of Medicine and the Columbia VA Health Care System, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Charlotte Hawkins
- Cell Biology and Anatomy and Cardiovascular Research Center, University of South Carolina School of Medicine and the Columbia VA Health Care System, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Sydney Womack
- Cell Biology and Anatomy and Cardiovascular Research Center, University of South Carolina School of Medicine and the Columbia VA Health Care System, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Amelia M Churillo
- Cell Biology and Anatomy and Cardiovascular Research Center, University of South Carolina School of Medicine and the Columbia VA Health Care System, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Jonathan Doyle
- Cell Biology and Anatomy and Cardiovascular Research Center, University of South Carolina School of Medicine and the Columbia VA Health Care System, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Albert J Sinusas
- Yale University Cardiovascular Imaging Center, New Haven CT, United States
| | - Francis G Spinale
- Cell Biology and Anatomy and Cardiovascular Research Center, University of South Carolina School of Medicine and the Columbia VA Health Care System, Columbia, SC, United States.
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Yu Z, Xu C, Song B, Zhang S, Chen C, Li C, Zhang S. Tissue fibrosis induced by radiotherapy: current understanding of the molecular mechanisms, diagnosis and therapeutic advances. J Transl Med 2023; 21:708. [PMID: 37814303 PMCID: PMC10563272 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04554-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer remains the leading cause of death around the world. In cancer treatment, over 50% of cancer patients receive radiotherapy alone or in multimodal combinations with other therapies. One of the adverse consequences after radiation exposure is the occurrence of radiation-induced tissue fibrosis (RIF), which is characterized by the abnormal activation of myofibroblasts and the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix. This phenotype can manifest in multiple organs, such as lung, skin, liver and kidney. In-depth studies on the mechanisms of radiation-induced fibrosis have shown that a variety of extracellular signals such as immune cells and abnormal release of cytokines, and intracellular signals such as cGAS/STING, oxidative stress response, metabolic reprogramming and proteasome pathway activation are involved in the activation of myofibroblasts. Tissue fibrosis is extremely harmful to patients' health and requires early diagnosis. In addition to traditional serum markers, histologic and imaging tests, the diagnostic potential of nuclear medicine techniques is emerging. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant therapies are the traditional treatments for radiation-induced fibrosis. Recently, some promising therapeutic strategies have emerged, such as stem cell therapy and targeted therapies. However, incomplete knowledge of the mechanisms hinders the treatment of this disease. Here, we also highlight the potential mechanistic, diagnostic and therapeutic directions of radiation-induced fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuxiang Yu
- Laboratory of Radiation Medicine, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Chaoyu Xu
- Laboratory of Radiation Medicine, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Bin Song
- Laboratory of Radiation Medicine, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, China National Nuclear Corporation 416 Hospital, Chengdu, 610051, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Technology Medical Transformation (Mianyang Central Hospital), Mianyang, 621099, China
| | - Shihao Zhang
- Laboratory of Radiation Medicine, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Chong Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First People's Hospital of Xuzhou, Xuzhou Municipal Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221200, China
| | - Changlong Li
- Laboratory of Radiation Medicine, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Shuyu Zhang
- Laboratory of Radiation Medicine, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, China National Nuclear Corporation 416 Hospital, Chengdu, 610051, China.
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Technology Medical Transformation (Mianyang Central Hospital), Mianyang, 621099, China.
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10
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Klinkhammer BM, Boor P. Kidney fibrosis: Emerging diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Mol Aspects Med 2023; 93:101206. [PMID: 37541106 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2023.101206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
An increasing number of patients worldwide suffers from chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD is accompanied by kidney fibrosis, which affects all compartments of the kidney, i.e., the glomeruli, tubulointerstitium, and vasculature. Fibrosis is the best predictor of progression of kidney diseases. Currently, there is no specific anti-fibrotic therapy for kidney patients and invasive renal biopsy remains the only option for specific detection and quantification of kidney fibrosis. Here we review emerging diagnostic approaches and potential therapeutic options for fibrosis. We discuss how translational research could help to establish fibrosis-specific endpoints for clinical trials, leading to improved patient stratification and potentially companion diagnostics, and facilitating and optimizing development of novel anti-fibrotic therapies for kidney patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter Boor
- Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany; Electron Microscopy Facility, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany; Division of Nephrology and Immunology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany.
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11
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Cui Y, Wang Y, Wang S, Du B, Li X, Li Y. Highlighting Fibroblasts Activation in Fibrosis: The State-of-The-Art Fibroblast Activation Protein Inhibitor PET Imaging in Cardiovascular Diseases. J Clin Med 2023; 12:6033. [PMID: 37762974 PMCID: PMC10531835 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12186033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibrosis is a common healing process that occurs during stress and injury in cardiovascular diseases. The evolution of fibrosis is associated with cardiovascular disease states and causes adverse effects. Fibroblast activation is responsible for the formation and progression of fibrosis. The incipient detection of activated fibroblasts is important for patient management and prognosis. Fibroblast activation protein (FAP), a membrane-bound serine protease, is almost specifically expressed in activated fibroblasts. The development of targeted FAP-inhibitor (FAPI) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging enabled the visualisation of FAP, that is, incipient fibrosis. Recently, research on FAPI PET imaging in cardiovascular diseases increased and is highly sought. Hence, we comprehensively reviewed the application of FAPI PET imaging in cardiovascular diseases based on the state-of-the-art published research. These studies provided some insights into the value of FAPI PET imaging in the early detection of cardiovascular fibrosis, risk stratification, response evaluation, and prediction of the evolution of left ventricular function. Future studies should be conducted with larger populations and multicentre patterns, especially for response evaluation and outcome prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Xuena Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China; (Y.C.); (Y.W.); (S.W.); (B.D.)
| | - Yaming Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China; (Y.C.); (Y.W.); (S.W.); (B.D.)
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12
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Tersalvi G, Beltrani V, Grübler MR, Molteni A, Cristoforetti Y, Pedrazzini G, Treglia G, Biasco L. Positron Emission Tomography in Heart Failure: From Pathophysiology to Clinical Application. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2023; 10:220. [PMID: 37233187 PMCID: PMC10218989 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd10050220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Imaging modalities are increasingly being used to evaluate the underlying pathophysiology of heart failure. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a non-invasive imaging technique that uses radioactive tracers to visualize and measure biological processes in vivo. PET imaging of the heart uses different radiopharmaceuticals to provide information on myocardial metabolism, perfusion, inflammation, fibrosis, and sympathetic nervous system activity, which are all important contributors to the development and progression of heart failure. This narrative review provides an overview of the use of PET imaging in heart failure, highlighting the different PET tracers and modalities, and discussing fields of present and future clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregorio Tersalvi
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiocentro Ticino Institute, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6850 Mendrisio, Switzerland
| | - Vittorio Beltrani
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiocentro Ticino Institute, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6850 Mendrisio, Switzerland
| | - Martin R. Grübler
- Department of Cardiology, Regional Hospital Neustadt, 2700 Wiener Neustadt, Austria
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | - Alessandra Molteni
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6850 Mendrisio, Switzerland
| | - Yvonne Cristoforetti
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Giovanni Pedrazzini
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiocentro Ticino Institute, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Giorgio Treglia
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Clinic of Nuclear Medicine, Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne (UNIL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Luigi Biasco
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Division of Cardiology, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Torino 4, 10073 Ospedale di Ciriè, Italy
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13
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Mayola MF, Thackeray JT. The Potential of Fibroblast Activation Protein-Targeted Imaging as a Biomarker of Cardiac Remodeling and Injury. Curr Cardiol Rep 2023; 25:515-523. [PMID: 37126137 DOI: 10.1007/s11886-023-01869-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Cardiovascular disease features adverse fibrotic processes within the myocardium, leading to contractile dysfunction. Activated cardiac fibroblasts play a pivotal role in the remodeling and progression of heart failure, but conventional diagnostics struggle to identify early changes in cardiac fibroblast dynamics. Emerging imaging methods visualize fibroblast activation protein (FAP) as a marker of activated fibroblasts, enabling non-invasive quantitative measurement of early cardiac remodeling. RECENT FINDINGS Retrospective analysis of oncology patient cohorts has identified cardiac uptake of FAP radioligands in response to various cardiovascular conditions. Small scale studies in dedicated cardiac populations have revealed FAP upregulation in injured myocardium, wherein the area of upregulation predicts subsequent ventricle dysfunction. Recent studies have demonstrated that silencing of FAP-expressing fibroblasts can reverse cardiac fibrosis in disease models. The parallel growth of FAP-targeted imaging and therapy provides the opportunity for imaging-based monitoring and refinement of treatments targeting cardiac fibroblast activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maday Fernandez Mayola
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Translational Cardiovascular Molecular Imaging, Carl Neuberg Str 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - James T Thackeray
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Translational Cardiovascular Molecular Imaging, Carl Neuberg Str 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
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14
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Caobelli F, Nappi C. A spotlight on fibroblast-activated protein inhibitor (FAPi) cardiovascular imaging. Clin Transl Imaging 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s40336-023-00548-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
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