Assessing NOS Uptake With PET Imaging in Lung Inflammation

The investigators plan to use three radioactive tracers to produce the PET images for measuring lung inflammation: [18F](+/-)NOS (the F stands for fluorine and NOS stands for Nitric Oxide Synthase, which targets iNOS), O-15 carbon monoxide ([15O]CO), and O-15 water ([15O]H2O). The NOS tracer gives information specifically about lung inflammation, while the carbon monoxide and water tracers give information about whether the lung inflammation causes more blood or water to be retained in the area of lung inflammation.

In order to show that [18F](+/-)NOS-PET is related to the amount of inflammation, the investigators first need to create a state of controlled lung inflammation that can be measured and quantified. "Controlled lung inflammation" means a reaction in the lungs that is similar to that which occurs during lung infection (increased respiratory secretions and cough). It is "controlled" because the investigators will not be using anything alive or contagious (it does not spread from one part of the body to another, and cannot spread to another person), and a small area in only one lung will be affected. In order to created this state of controlled lung inflammation, the investigators plan to place a small amount of a purified bacterial substance called endotoxin into a single small section of the lung using a bronchoscope (a long, flexible narrow tube that is passed through the mouth into the airways of the lung). This use of endotoxin is considered investigational, and the investigators have received permission from the FDA to use endotoxin in this research study.

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy man or woman, any race or ethnicity, age 19-44 years old
• Screening FEV1 and FVC greater than or equal to 90% of predicted
• Screening oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry greater than or equal to 97% on room air
• Capable of lying still and supine with arms raised above the head within PET/CT scanner for 2-2.5 hours
• Capable of following instructions for breathing protocol during CT portion of PET/CT scans
• Able and willing to give informed consent
• Body Mass Index (BMI) < 35

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy (confirmed by qualitative serum hCG pregnancy test)
• Lactation
• History of cardiopulmonary disease
• Currently taking any prescription medications
• History of tobacco use or illicit drug use within the past year
• Presence of implanted electronic medical device
• Enrollment in another research study of an investigational drug
• Known allergy to both trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and amoxicillin, Penicillin, Lidocaine, Demerol, Versed, and/or Fentanyl
• Inability to lie flat for 2-2.5 hours for PET/CT scans or follow breathing protocol instructions for the CT portion of the PET/CT
• Prior research-related radiation exposure within the past year such that participation in this study would result in exposures that exceed the limits as defined by the FDA RDRC regulations (21 CFR 361.1)