Abstract
T lymphocytes are key mediators of the adaptive immune response. Inappropriate or imbalanced T cell responses are underlying factors in cancer progression, allergy and other immune disorders. Monitoring the spatiotemporal dynamics of T cells and their functional status has the potential to provide unique biological insights in health and disease. Non-invasive positron emission tomography (PET) imaging represents an ideal whole-body modality for achieving this goal. With the appropriate PET imaging probes, T cell dynamics can be monitored in vivo, with high specificity and sensitivity. Herein, we provide a comprehensive overview of the applications of this state-of-the-art T cell PET imaging toolbox, and the potential it has to improve the clinical management of cancer immunotherapy and T cell- driven diseases. We also discuss future directions and prospects for clinical translation.
- Molecular Imaging
- PET
- PET/CT
- Cancer Immunotherapy
- Graft versus Host Disease
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- T cell PET imaging
- Copyright © 2021 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Inc.