Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have pioneered a new way to identify inflammation in the body through positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. This advanced probe focuses on CD45, a protein found on all immune cells but not present in other types of cells.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have pioneered a new method for detecting inflammation in the body, utilizing positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. This cutting-edge probe specifically targets CD45, a marker that is plentiful on all immune cells but not found in other cell types. In healthy subjects, this probe creates exceptionally clear images of immune organs, including the bone marrow, spleen, and lymph nodes. In models of disease, it highlights inflammation in affected areas, such as the colon in cases of inflammatory bowel disease and the lungs in acute respiratory distress syndrome.
The team discovered that the level of inflammation indicated by CD45-PET is associated with both microscopic tissue evaluation and clinical symptoms. They also created a human CD45-PET probe and showed that it can successfully identify human immune cells in a humanized mouse model. Additionally, in studies involving graft-versus-host disease—a serious condition that can arise after bone marrow transplants—the human CD45-PET probe displayed promise for early detection and accurate mapping of the disease, which can appear in various body locations. The researchers are now preparing to start clinical trials to confirm the effectiveness of their human CD45-PET probe.
Inflammation signals that the immune system is actively combating disease. However, if inflammation becomes chronic and excessive, it can be harmful and is a major contributor to numerous long-term health issues, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, which together account for a large share of global deaths. At present, there are no non-invasive methods available that can reliably locate and identify inflamed areas in the body. The newly developed CD45-PET probe is the first of its kind to detect inflammation generally and with high precision throughout the entire body. Once it is validated for use in humans, this tool could have immediate applications in clinical settings, including helping to choose anti-inflammatory treatments, monitoring responses to these medications and cancer immunotherapies, and assisting in diagnosing conditions with known inflammatory causes.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Harvard Medical School, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital Heart and Vascular Center.
