Abstract 460: 64Cu-DOTATATE for in vivo Positron Emission Tomography Imaging of Somatostatin Receptor 2 Expressing Macrophages in a Göttingen Minipig Model of Atherosclerosis

Background: Somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SSTR2) is expressed by activated macrophages which are important effector cells in atherogenesis and a major constituent of atherosclerotic plaques. SSTR2 can be targeted non-invasively in vivo using the tracer 64Cu-DOTATATE and positron emission tomography (PET). Methods: Male castrated Gottingen minipigs were treated according to two diet regimes for 43 weeks: chow (lean control; n=1) or high-fat/high-cholesterol diet (HFHC, obese group; n=2). Plasma lipids: total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) were measured and SSTR2 expression was assessed using hybrid positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance (PET/MR) imaging of the abdominal aorta, one hour (range: 60-63 minutes) post injection with 200 MBq (range 202-214 MBq) of 64Cu-DOTATATE. Consectutive regions of interest (ROIs) were drawn guided by MR to include vessel wall and lumen of the abdominal aorta to calculate standardized uptake values (SUVs). Target-to-background (TBR) ratios were calculate...