RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 A Bivalent Leukotriene B4 Antagonist for Scintigraphic Imaging of Infectious Foci JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine JO J Nucl Med FD Society of Nuclear Medicine SP 1087 OP 1091 VO 44 IS 7 A1 van Eerd, Julliëtte E.M. A1 Oyen, Wim J.G. A1 Harris, Thomas D. A1 Rennen, Huub J.J.M. A1 Edwards, D. Scott A1 Liu, Shuang A1 Ellars, Charles E. A1 Corstens, Frans H.M. A1 Boerman, Otto C. YR 2003 UL http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/44/7/1087.abstract AB Several radiolabeled chemotactic peptides have been tested for their suitability to show infection and inflammation. Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) receptor-binding ligands could be useful agents for revealing neutrophilic infiltrations because the LTB4 receptor is abundantly expressed on neutrophils after an inflammatory stimulus. In this study, we investigated the in vivo and in vitro characteristics of a new hydrophilic 111In-labeled LTB4 antagonist. Methods: The LTB4 antagonist DPC11870-11 was labeled with 111In and intravenously injected into New Zealand White rabbits with Escherichia coli infection in the left thigh muscle. The pharmacokinetics and biodistribution were studied by serial scintigraphic imaging (0–24 h after injection) and by ex vivo counting of dissected tissues (6 and 24 h after injection). The receptor-mediated in vivo localization of the compound was investigated in 3 rabbits that received an excess of nonradioactive indium-labeled agent 2 min before the administration of the 111In-labeled LTB4 antagonist. Results: In rabbits with intramuscular E. coli infection, the abscess was visualized as early as 2 h after injection. Accumulation in the abscess increased with time, resulting in excellent images at 6 h after injection. Blood clearance was rapid in the first hours after injection (α-half-life = 30 ± 6 min, 85%; β-half-life = 25.7 ± 0.8 h, 15%). Abscess-to-background ratios, as derived from the region-of-interest analysis, increased to 34 ± 7 at 24 h after injection. The images of both groups showed moderate uptake in the liver, spleen, kidneys, and bone marrow. No activity was seen in the bladder, indicating almost complete retention in the kidneys. The uptake in the abscess could be blocked completely by injection of an excess of nonradioactive agent, indicating a specific receptor-ligand interaction of the radiolabeled agent in the infected tissue. Biodistribution data showed that after saturation of the LTB4 receptor, the abscess uptake, in percentage injected dose per gram, was significantly reduced (0.03 ± 0.02 vs. 0.24 ± 0.06, P = 0.008). Conclusion: The modified LTB4 antagonist showed infectious foci rapidly after injection because of specific receptor-ligand interaction. Because of the high abscess-to-background ratios that were obtained and the fact that no accumulation of radioactivity was observed in the gastrointestinal tract, this compound has excellent characteristics for revealing infectious and inflammatory foci.