Application of a novel CD206+ macrophage-specific arterial imaging strategy in HIV-infected individuals

Abstract

Background. The ability to noninvasively assess arterial CD206+ macrophages may lead to improved understanding of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–associated cardiovascular disease. Methods. We trialed a novel macrophage-specific arterial imaging technique. Results. We demonstrated colocalization between technetium Tc 99m tilmanocept (99mTc-tilmanocept) and CD206+ macrophages ex vivo. In vivo application of 99mTc-tilmanocept single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography revealed high-level 99mTc-tilmanocept uptake across 20.4% of the aortic surface volume among HIV-infected subjects, compared with 4.3% among non–HIV-infected subjects (P = .009). Among all subjects, aortic high-level 99mTc-til-manocept uptake was related to noncalcified aortic plaque volume (r = 0.87; P = .003) on computed tomographic angiography, and this relationship held when we controlled for HIV status. Conclusion. These first-in-human data introduce a novel macrophage-specific arterial imaging technique in HIV. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT02542371.