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© 2009 The American Thoracic Society doi: 10.1513/pats.200901-004AW Molecular Imaging of Pulmonary Disease In Vivo1 Molecular Imaging Center, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, and Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri Correspondence and requests for reprints should be addressed to David Piwnica-Worms, M.D., Ph.D., Molecular Imaging Center, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University Medical School, 510 S. Kingshighway Blvd., Box 8225 St. Louis, MO 63110. E-mail: piwnica-wormsd{at}mir.wustl.edu ABSTRACT Characterization and noninvasive measurement of molecular pathways and biochemistry in living cells, animal models, and humans at the cellular and molecular level is now possible using remote imaging detectors. Positron and single photon emission tomography scanners, highly sensitive cameras for bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging, as well as high-magnetic-field magnetic resonance imaging scanners, can be used to study such diverse processes as signal transduction, receptor density and function, host response to pathogens, cell trafficking, and gene transfer. In many cases, images from more than one modality can be fused, allowing structure–function and multifunction relationships to be studied on a tissue-restricted or regional basis. "Molecular imaging" holds enormous potential for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of pulmonary disease and therapeutic response in intact animal models and humans.
Key Words: molecular imaging positron emission tomography optical imaging magnetic resonance imaging imaging reporter genes Related articles in Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society:
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