In vivo microbial targeting of 99mTc-Labeled Human β-Defensin-3 in a rat model of infection

Differentiation of infection from aseptic inflammation represents a major clinical issue. None of the commercially available compounds (labeled granulocytes, antigranulocyte antibodies, Ga-citrate, labeled immunoglobulin G, F-FDG) is capable of this differentiation, producing a nonnegligible false-positive rate. Recently, our group reported on a reliable labeling procedure of the antimicrobial peptide human β-defensin 3 (HBD-3) with Tc. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vivo Tc-HBD-3 uptake in a rat model of infection.