Fibrotic Disease: from Signaling Pathways and Biomarkers to Molecular Imaging.

IF 2.5 4区医学 Q2 RADIOLOGY, NUCLEAR MEDICINE & MEDICAL IMAGING

Molecular Imaging and Biology Pub Date : 2025-08-11 DOI:10.1007/s11307-025-02038-9

Mobin Ghazaiean, Patrick J Riss, Alireza Mardanshahi, Sajjad Molavipordanjani

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Fibrotic diseases are characterized by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components following tissue injury, ultimately leading to organ dysfunction and failure. The progression of fibrosis is governed by complex molecular signaling pathways, including TGF-β, PDGF, FGF, CTGF, VEGF, and many others, which regulate myofibroblast activation, ECM production, and tissue remodeling. Traditional diagnostic modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and biopsy are limited in their ability to distinguish active fibrogenesis from established fibrosis or detect early molecular changes. Recent advances in molecular imaging such as the development of targeted radiotracers and MRI contrast agents-have enabled more precise detection and characterization of fibrotic processes at both preclinical and clinical levels. The integration of molecular imaging with targeted probes holds promise for improving early diagnosis, guiding therapeutic strategies, and advancing clinical management of fibrosis. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the molecular mechanisms underlying fibrogenesis, highlights key signaling pathways and biomarkers, and discusses current and emerging molecular imaging agents for fibrotic diseases diagnosis and monitoring.

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纤维化疾病：从信号通路和生物标志物到分子成像。

纤维化疾病的特点是组织损伤后细胞外基质（ECM）成分过度积累，最终导致器官功能障碍和衰竭。纤维化的进展是由复杂的分子信号通路控制的，包括TGF-β、PDGF、FGF、CTGF、VEGF等，它们调节肌成纤维细胞的激活、ECM的产生和组织重塑。传统的诊断方法，如磁共振成像（MRI）、计算机断层扫描（CT）和活检，在区分活跃的纤维生成和已建立的纤维化或检测早期分子变化的能力方面是有限的。分子成像的最新进展，如靶向放射性示踪剂和MRI造影剂的发展，使得在临床前和临床水平上更精确地检测和表征纤维化过程成为可能。分子成像与靶向探针的结合有望改善纤维化的早期诊断、指导治疗策略和推进临床管理。本文综述了纤维形成的分子机制，重点介绍了关键的信号通路和生物标志物，并讨论了目前和新兴的用于纤维化疾病诊断和监测的分子显像剂。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Molecular Imaging and Biology 医学-核医学

CiteScore

6.90

自引率

3.20%

发文量

审稿时长

3 months

期刊介绍： Molecular Imaging and Biology (MIB) invites original contributions (research articles, review articles, commentaries, etc.) on the utilization of molecular imaging (i.e., nuclear imaging, optical imaging, autoradiography and pathology, MRI, MPI, ultrasound imaging, radiomics/genomics etc.) to investigate questions related to biology and health. The objective of MIB is to provide a forum to the discovery of molecular mechanisms of disease through the use of imaging techniques. We aim to investigate the biological nature of disease in patients and establish new molecular imaging diagnostic and therapy procedures. Some areas that are covered are: Preclinical and clinical imaging of macromolecular targets (e.g., genes, receptors, enzymes) involved in significant biological processes. The design, characterization, and study of new molecular imaging probes and contrast agents for the functional interrogation of macromolecular targets. Development and evaluation of imaging systems including instrumentation, image reconstruction algorithms, image analysis, and display. Development of molecular assay approaches leading to quantification of the biological information obtained in molecular imaging. Study of in vivo animal models of disease for the development of new molecular diagnostics and therapeutics. Extension of in vitro and in vivo discoveries using disease models, into well designed clinical research investigations. Clinical molecular imaging involving clinical investigations, clinical trials and medical management or cost-effectiveness studies.