TY - JOUR T1 - Noninvasive Imaging of Osteoclasts in Parathyroid Hormone–Induced Osteolysis Using a <sup>64</sup>Cu-Labeled RGD Peptide JF - Journal of Nuclear Medicine JO - J Nucl Med SP - 311 LP - 318 VL - 48 IS - 2 AU - Jennifer E. Sprague AU - Hideki Kitaura AU - Wei Zou AU - Yunpeng Ye AU - Samuel Achilefu AU - Katherine N. Weilbaecher AU - Steven L. Teitelbaum AU - Carolyn J. Anderson Y1 - 2007/02/01 UR - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/48/2/311.abstract N2 - Bone diseases are often a result of increased numbers of osteoclasts, or bone-resorbing cells. Bone metastases are a significant cause of morbidity in many types of cancer. An imaging agent targeting osteoclasts, which are upregulated in osteolytic lesions, may facilitate earlier follow-up in patients with osteolytic or mixed bone metastases. Osteoclasts express high levels of αvβ3 integrin, to which peptides containing the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence are known to bind. We proposed that radiolabeled RGD peptides could be used to detect osteoclasts in lytic bone lesions. Methods: The cross-bridged macrocyclic chelator 4,11-bis(carboxymethyl)-1,4,8,11-tetraazabicyclo[6.6.2]hexadecane (CB-TE2A) was conjugated to c(RGDyK) for radiolabeling with 64Cu (t1/2, 12.7 h; β+, 17.4%; Eβ+max, 656 keV; β−, 39%; Eβ−max, 573 keV). The in vitro affinity of Cu(II)-CB-TE2A-c(RGDyK) for αvβ3 and αvβ5 was evaluated in a heterologous competitive binding assay. Ex vivo uptake was examined in osteoclasts prepared from bone marrow macrophages. As a proof of principle, biodistribution and imaging studies were performed on parathyroid hormone (PTH)–induced osteolysis in the calvarium. Results: Cu-CB-TE2A-c(RGDyK) was shown to have a 30-fold higher affinity for αvβ3 than for αvβ5. Osteoclasts were shown to specifically take up 64Cu-CB-TE2A-c(RGDyK). However, bone marrow macrophages showed only nonspecific uptake. PTH treatment increased calvarial uptake of 64Cu-CB-TE2A-c(RGDyK), compared with uptake in mice receiving a sham treatment. In addition, calvarial uptake correlated linearly with the number of osteoclasts on the bone surface. Conclusion: These results suggest that 64Cu-CB-TE2A-c(RGDyK) selectively binds αvβ3 on osteoclasts and may potentially be used to identify increased numbers of osteoclasts in osteolytic bone diseases such as osteolytic bone metastasis and inflammatory osteolysis. ER -