| abstract |
The present invention provides novel agents for specifically targeting and detecting or treating focal sites of infection or inflammation in a subject. The diagnostic agents of the invention rapidly localize at sites of infection or inflammation. In addition, the agents exhibit a relatively high target-to-background ratio and rapid clearance from the background and the target particular when administered as a bolus intravenously. Further, clinical pharmakonetic studies indicate that administration of colony stimulating factors in an amount effective for targeting would be relatively safe. The invention is based, at least in part, on the surprising finding that radiolabeled G-CSF effectively localizes to sites of infection. This empirical result is surprising, since the expression level of CSF receptors on cells has been found to be relatively low, compared to the expression level of other growth factor receptors on hematopoietic cells (Park et al., "Hemapoietic Growth-Factor Receptors" p. 39-75 in). Based on the cross-reactivity between CSFs and CSF receptors (Walker, F., and A.W. Burgess (1987) J. Cell. Physiol. 130:255-261), it is expected that other CSFs will also bind to sites of infection. |