Development of TSPO-PET imaging for noninvasive diagnosis of liver diseases

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24790543
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Applied pharmacology
• Research Institution: National Institute of Radiological Sciences
• Principal Investigator: XIE Lin 独立行政法人放射線医学総合研究所, 分子イメージング研究センター, 研究員 (30623558)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 肝疾患 / 脂肪肝 / TSPO / PET / [18]FEDAC / 画像診断法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Due to the limitations of liver biopsy and currently available noninvasive imaging techniques, new noninvasive approaches for diagnosis of liver diseases, especially the most common subgroup fatty liver disease (FLD), have become an urgent requirement. In this study, we focused on the mitochondrial dysfunction that is responsible for disease progression of FLD, and translocator protein (18 kDa)(TSPO)-a mitochondrial transmembrane protein, explored whether TSPO can be used as an imaging biomarker of noninvasive diagnosis and staging of FLD, monitored using PET with a TSPO specific radioligand [18F]FEDAC. Our data demonstrated TSPO is a good imaging biomarker, and [18F]FEDAC-PET can accurate and noninvasive diagnosis and staging of FLD with excellent sensitivity and specificity. Our study may open a novel avenue for noninvasive and reliable clinic screening of FLD focusing on the general population.

Free Research Field

医歯薬学　 科研費の分科・細目：境界医学・応用薬理学