Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P M Van Hagen

Publications and source records attributed to P M Van Hagen.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Tissue distribution of octreotide binding receptors in normal mice and strains prone to autoimmunity.

Somatostatin has diverse functions, including immunomodulatory functions. In humans, sites of active inflammation can be visualized by the administration of 111In-DTPA(0)-octreotide, a radiolabelled somatostatin analogue. We wished to establish an animal model for preclinical evaluation of the effects of somatostatin analogues on the immune system. However, most animal models for immunological diseases are murine. This report is a preliminary study of the distribution of somatostatin receptors in mouse tissues, with emphasis on the immune system. Tissue distribution of octreotide binding receptors in normal (BALB/c) mice was determined in vivo by receptor binding of 111In-DTPA(0)-octreotide and in vitro and ex vivo by receptor autoradiography. Additionally, we investigated the tissue distribution of octreotide binding receptors in inflammatory lesions in a murine model of immune mediated disease, i.e. pre-diabetic pancreatic infiltration in the non-obese diabetic mouse strain. High specific uptake of radioactivity was seen in the thymus (range 1-1.7% ID/g) and the pituitary (1-1.6% ID/g) in all mouse strains. Specific uptake was also found in the stomach (0.1-0.7% ID/g), in the adrenal glands (0.1-0.3% ID/g) and in the pancreas (0.1-0.3% ID/g). However, we did not detect increased uptake of radiolabelled octreotide in the pancreas of pre-diabetic NOD mice. Autoradiography on tissue sections confirmed the presence of octreotide binding sites in the tissues that showed specific uptake. Moreover, by using autoradiography we could localize the cortex of the thymus and the anterior part of the pituitary as the localization of specific and high affinity, octreotide binding sites. A high, but not a receptor mediated, uptake of radioactivity was seen in the kidneys and was significantly higher in females than in males (12-19% vs 4% ID/g, respectively). Our results point to profound species differences in the tissue distribution of octreotide binding receptors. Of particular interest is the high uptake of 111In-DTPA(0)-octreotide in the cortex of the mouse thymus. This offers perspectives for the use of this animal in studies concerning the effect of somatostatin analogues on the immune system. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the tissue distribution of octreotide binding receptors in mice.

Animals↗

Age-related decrease of somatostatin receptor number in the normal human thymus.

The thymus exhibits a pattern of aging oriented toward a physiological involution. The structural changes start with a steady decrease of thymocytes, whereas no major variations occur in the number of thymic epithelial cells (TEC). The data concerning the role of hormones and neuropeptides in thymic involution are equivocal. We recently demonstrated the presence of somatostatin (SS) and three different SS receptor (SSR) subtypes in the human thymus. TEC selectively expressed SSR subtype 1 (sst(1)) and sst(2A). In the present study we investigated whether SSR number is age related in the thymus. Binding of the sst(2)-preferring ligand (125)I-Tyr(3)-octreotide was evaluated in a large series of normal human thymuses of different age by SSR autoradiography and ligand binding on tissue homogenates. The score at autoradiography and the number of SSR at membrane homogenate binding (B(max)) were inversely correlated with the thymus age (r = -0.84, P < 0.001; r = -0.82, P < 0.001, respectively). The autoradiographic score was positively correlated with the B(max) values (r = 0.74, P < 0.001). Because the TEC number in the age range considered remains unchanged, the decrease of octreotide binding sites might be due to a reduction of sst(2A) receptor number on TEC. The age-related expression of a receptor involved mainly in controlling secretive processes is in line with the evidence that the major changes occurring in TEC with aging are related to their capabilities in producing thymic hormones. In conclusion, SS and SSR might play a role in the involution of the human thymus. These findings underline the links between the neuroendocrine and immune systems and support the concept that neuropeptides participate in development of cellular immunity in humans.

Adolescent↗

Somatostatin receptor imaging in patients with sarcoidosis.

Granulomatous diseases can be visualized in vivo after the injection of indium-111-DTPA-octreotide (111In-pentetreotide), a radiolabelled somatostatin analogue. We evaluated whether somatostatin receptor imaging reflects disease activity, whether certain scintigraphic characteristics can predict the disease prognosis and whether repeat scintigraphy correlates with the clinical course in patients with sarcoidosis. 111In-pentetreotide was injected in 46 patients and images were obtained 24 h later. Known mediastinal, hilar and interstitial disease was recognized in 36 of 37 patients. Also, such pathology was found in seven other patients who had normal chest X-rays. In five of these, somatostatin receptor imaging pointed to interstitial disease. Frequently, accumulation of radioactivity in parotid glands and supraclavicular lymph nodes was found. Neither the degree of radioactive accumulation in the thorax nor a specific pattern of pathological uptake was correlated with disease severity or clinical course. The degree of uptake of radioactivity in the parotid glands was correlated with significantly higher serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) levels. Somatostatin receptor imaging was repeated in 13 patients. In five of six patients in whom chest X-ray monitored improvement of disease activity, the pentetreotide scintigram also showed a decrease in pathological uptake. In two of five patients in whom the chest X-ray was unchanged, but serum ACE concentrations had decreased and lung function improved, normalization on pentetreotide scintigrams was found. It is concluded that: (1) somatostatin receptor imaging can demonstrate active granulomatous disease in patients with sarcoidosis; (2) pathological uptake of radioactivity in the parotid glands during somatostatin receptor imaging is correlated with higher serum ACE concentrations; (3) the value of somatostatin receptor imaging in the follow-up of patients with sarcoidosis will have to be determined in a prospective longitudinal study.

Female↗

111In-octreotide scintigraphy in oncology.

Various tumors of neuroendocrine origin that have amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation (APUD) characteristics can be visualized in vivo after intravenous (IV) injection of the somatostatin analogue, [123I-Tyr3]-octreotide. However, the relatively short effective half-life of this compound and the high background of radioactivity in the abdomen are drawbacks to its application. Therefore, an 111In-coupled somatostatin analogue ([111In-DTPA-D-Phe1]- octreotide) was developed. This analogue is excreted mainly via the kidneys, with 90% of the dose being present in the urine 24 hours after injection. Using 111In-octreotide scintigraphy, seven of seven gastrinomas, four of seven insulinomas, one of one glucagonomas, three of three unclassified APUDomas, and none of 18 exocrine pancreatic carcinomas were visualized. Also, 19 of 19 carcinoids, 15 of 15 glomus tumors, eight of 12 medullary thyroid carcinomas, six of six small-cell lung carcinomas, four of four growth hormone-producing and six of nine clinically nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas were visualized. Apart from APUD cell-derived tumors, 111In-octreotide scintigraphy was also successfully applied in visualizing breast cancer, lymphomas, and granulomas. In 39 of 50 patients with breast carcinoma, 10 of 11 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, three of three patients with Hodgkin's disease, and eight of eight patients with sarcoidosis, tumor sites accumulated radioactivity during octreotide scintigraphy. In a considerable number of patients with carcinoids and glomus tumors, and also in patients with granulomas and lymphomas, 111In-octreotide scintigraphy showed more tumor sites than did conventional imaging techniques. The results of imaging in vivo correlated with the somatostatin-receptor status on the tumors in vitro.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acromegaly↗