Visualizing mitochondrial (dys)function using positron emission tomography imaging.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is thought to be a critical pathway in the development and progression of kidney diseases, but optimal methods to assess kidney mitochondrial dysfunction are not well known. Saeki and colleagues use positron emission tomography imaging with a novel probe, 2-tert-butyl-4-chloro-5-[6-(4-18F-fluorobutoxy)-pyridin-3-ylmethoxy]-2H-pyridazin-3-one (18F-BCPP-BF), to visualize and assess kidney mitochondrial status. The authors demonstrate that reduced uptake of 18F-BCPP-BF, as assessed by positron emission tomography imaging, corresponds to reduced functioning mitochondria in 3 separate animal models of kidney diseases.