αlphavbeta6 targeted molecular PET/CT imaging of lung post SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The true impact and long-term damage to organs such as the lungs following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection remain to be determined. Non-invasive molecularly targeted imaging may play a critical role to aid in the visualization and understanding of the systemic damage. We have identified αvβ6 as molecular target; an epithelium-specific cell surface receptor that is low/undetectable in healthy adult epithelium but up-regulated in select injured tissues, including fibrotic lung. Herein we report the first human positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) images using the integrin αvβ6 binding peptide (18F-αvβ6-BP) in a patient 2 months after the acute phase of infection. Minimal uptake of 18F-αvβ6-BP was noted in normal lung parenchyma, with elevated uptake in the lung corresponding to areas of opacities on CT. This case suggests 18F-αvβ6-BP PET/CT is a promising non-invasive approach to identify the presence and potentially monitor the persistence/ progression of lung damage.