In vivo PET imaging of galectins

Molecular imaging, represented by positron emission tomography (PET), has revolutionized disease diagnosis and treatment monitoring by enabling noninvasive visualization and quantitative assessment of biological processes at molecular and cellular levels. Galectins (Gals), a family of proteins exhibiting unique affinity for β-galactoside-containing glycans, have emerged as promising biomarkers for diverse diseases, including tumors, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. This review provides an overview of the current research landscape concerning galectins and the development of PET radiotracers targeting these proteins. Recent advances in galectin-targeted PET imaging, particularly radiotracers for Gal-1, Gal-3, and Gal-7, underscore the potential of this approach for disease diagnosis and treatment response monitoring. Further studies are required to develop additional radiotracers specifically targeting different galectin subtypes for future potential clinical applications.