Evaluation of hepatic integrin αvβ3 expression in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) model mouse by 18F-FPP-RGD2 PET

Background Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which express integrin αvβ3, are a major fibrogenic factor in NASH pathophysiology. 18F-labeled cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic acid penta-peptide (18F-FPP-RGD2) has been used as a PET probe for tumors expressing integrin αvβ3. The aim of this study was to assess the potential of PET with 18F-FPP-RGD2 to detect hepatic integrin αvβ3 expression in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) model mice.