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Intracellular and extracellular targets of molecular imaging in the myocardium

Nature Clinical Practice Cardiovascular Medicine volume 5, pages S33–S41 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Utilization of molecular imaging has significantly advanced the field of cardiovascular medicine. In addition to the targets currently in use, novel targets are being developed, including those involved in the processes of myocardial metabolism, myocardial injury, cardiac neurotransmission, and interstitial dysregulation. Further development of these imaging targets may lead to improved characterization of disease processes and guide provision of individualized therapies.

Key Points

  • Molecular myocardial imaging is a rapidly evolving field that aims to provide a better understanding of biologic processes that occur in the myocardium

  • Targeted imaging of myocardial metabolism, myocardial injury, cardiac neurotransmission, and interstitial dysregulation continues to develop, with early incorporation into the clinical realm

  • Identification of novel molecular targets, as well as improvement in the techniques to image currently available targets, is ongoing

  • Limitations of molecular myocardial imaging include low spatial resolution and limited availability of radiopharmaceuticals; further development of the technology should reduce the effect of these limitations

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Figure 1: Imaging myocardial metabolism.
Figure 2: Imaging myocardial apoptosis.
Figure 3: A schematic representation of cardiac neurotransmission.
Figure 4: Imaging angiogenesis.

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Acknowledgements

HJC is supported by an SNM Pilot Research Grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. HJ Chun is a Fellow in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and JC Wu is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and in the Department of Radiology, both at Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA,

    Hyung J Chun & Joseph C Wu

  2. J Narula is a Professor in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA,

    Jagat Narula

  3. L Hofstra is an Associate Professor of Cardiology at Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,

    Leonard Hofstra

Authors
  1. Hyung J Chun
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  2. Jagat Narula
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  3. Leonard Hofstra
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  4. Joseph C Wu
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Correspondence to Joseph C Wu.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Chun, H., Narula, J., Hofstra, L. et al. Intracellular and extracellular targets of molecular imaging in the myocardium. Nat Rev Cardiol 5 (Suppl 2), S33–S41 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpcardio1161

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