In Vivo Visualization and Quantification of Neutrophil Elastase in Lungs of COVID-19 Patients: A First-in-Humans PET Study with 11 C-NES

The Journal of Nuclear Medicine

article

Gunnar Antoni¹  Mark Lubberink²  Jens Sörensen²  Elin Lindström²  Mathias Elgland¹  Olof Eriksson¹  Michael Hultström²  Robert Frithiof²  Anders Wanhainen²  Jonathan Sigfridsson²  Paul Skorup³  Miklos Lipcsey² 

[1] Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University;Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University;Department of Medicinal Sciences, Uppsala University

关键词: neutrophil elastase;    PET;    11C-GW457427;   

DOI  :  10.2967/jnumed.122.263974

学科分类：医学（综合）

来源: Society of Nuclear Medicine

【 摘 要 】

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause life-threatening lung inflammation that is thought to be mediated by neutrophils. The aim of the present work was to evaluate a novel PET tracer for neutrophil elastase (NE). Methods: In this first-in-humans study, 4 patients with hypoxia due to COVID-19 and 2 healthy controls were investigated with PET using 11C-NES and 15O-water for visualization and quantification of NE and perfusion in the lungs, respectively. Results: 11C-NES accumulated selectively in lung areas with COVID-19 opacities on CT scans, suggesting high levels of NE there. In the same areas, perfusion was severely reduced in comparison to healthy lung tissue as measured with 15O-water. Conclusion: The data suggest that NE is associated with severe lung inflammation in COVID-19 patients and that inhibition of NE could potentially reduce the acute inflammatory process and improve the condition.

【 授权许可】

CC BY