SPECT/CT imaging of apoptosis in aortic aneurysm with radiolabeled duramycin

The objective of this research was to estimate whether a [99mTc] duramycin probe can be used for apoptosis imaging in patients with aortic aneurysm (AA). Vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) apoptosis has an important influence on AA development. Thus, non-invasive imaging of SMC apoptosis may be able to evaluate AA progress and risk stratification. SMCs were treated with hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ; 200 μΜ) or culture medium as a control. Apoptosis was measured using flow cytometry and [99mTc] duramycin to detect the binding efficiency to apoptotic SMCs. C57/BL6 mice were administered angiotensin-II and beta-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) subcutaneously to establish an AA model, or saline for controls. Aortic specimens underwent pathological evaluation and their aortic diameters were measured after 6 weeks. Micro-SPECT/CT scanning of [99mTc] duramycin and 18 F-FDG PET detection were performed. SMCs treated with H 2 O 2 showed more apoptosis compared with the control group (67.2 ± 3.8% vs. 16.1 ± 0.6%, P