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The asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) is abundantly expressed on the surface of hepatocytes where it recognizes and endocytoses glycoproteins with galactosyl and N-acetylgalactosamine groups. Given its hepatic distribution, the asialoglycoprotein receptor can be targeted by positron imaging agents to study liver function using PET imaging. In this study, the positron imaging agent [ 18 F]FPGal was designed to specifically target hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor and its effectiveness was assessed in in vitro and in vivo models. The radiosynthesis of [ 18 F]FPGal required 50 min with total radiochemical yields of [ 18 F]FPGal from [ 18 F]fluoride as 10% (corrected radiochemical yield). The K d of [ 18 F]FPGal to ASGPR in HepG2 cells was 1.99 ± 0.05 mM. Uptake values of 0.55% were observed within 30 min of incubation with HepG2 cells, which could be blocked by 200 mM d(+)-galactose (<0.1%). In vivo biodistribution analysis showed that the liver accumulation of [ 18 F]FPGal at 30 min was 4.47 ± 0.96% ID/g in normal mice compared to 1.33 ± 0.07% ID/g in hepatic fibrotic mice (P < 0.01). Reduced uptake in the hepatic fibrosis mouse models was confirmed through PET/CT images at 30 min. Compared to normal mice, the standard uptake value (SUV) in the hepatic fibrosis mice was significantly lower when assessed through dynamic data collection for 1 h. Therefore, [ 18 F]FPGal is a feasible PET probe that provide insight into ASGPR related liver disease., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The goal of this study is to develop a noninvasive method of SPECT imaging to quantify and stage liver fibrosis with an Asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP-R) targeting tracer-(99m)Tc-p(VLA-co-VNI). ASGP-Rs are well known to specifically express in the mammalian liver. Here, we demonstrated ASGP-R expression decreased in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced mouse model. ASGP-R expression correlated with liver fibrosis progression. ASGP-R could be a useful marker in the stage of liver fibrosis. Liver uptake value (LUV) derived by SPECT imaging was used to assess liver fibrosis in the CCl4-induced mouse model. LUV = [radioactivity (liver uptake)/radioactivity (injected)] × 100/liver volume. The LUV decreased along with the disease progression. The relationships between LUV and liver hydroxyproline (i.e. collagen), as well as Sirius Red were established and verified. A strong negative linear correlation was found between LUV and hydroxyproline levels (r = -0.83) as well as LUV and Sirius Red quantification (r = -0.83). In conclusion, SPECT imaging with (99m)Tc-p(VLA-co-VNI) is useful in evaluating and staging liver fibrosis in vivo.

Two galactose derivatives, a monovalent (99m)Tc-MAMA-MGal galactoside and a divalent (99m)Tc-MAMA-DGal galactoside, were synthesized and radiolabeled in high radiochemical purity (>98%). Dynamic microSPECT imaging and biodistribution study of two traces in normal and liver fibrosis mice showed that the (99m)Tc-MAMA-DGal revealed higher specific binding to asialoglycoprotein receptors in liver and then rapidly excreted via both hepatobiliary system and renal clearance. The results suggest that (99m)Tc-MAMA-DGal may be used as SPECT probes for noninvasive evaluation of asialoglycoprotein receptor-related liver dysfunction., (Crown Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)