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- Title
αβ integrin-targeted microSPECT/CT imaging of inflamed atherosclerotic plaques in mice.
- Authors
Vancraeynest, David; Roelants, Véronique; Bouzin, Caroline; Hanin, François-Xavier; Walrand, Stephan; Bol, Vanesa; Bol, Anne; Pouleur, Anne-Catherine; Pasquet, Agnès; Gerber, Bernhard; Lesnik, Philippe; Huby, Thierry; Jamar, François; Vanoverschelde, Jean-Louis
- Abstract
Background: αβ-integrin is expressed by activated endothelial cells and macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques and may represent a valuable marker of high-risk plaques. We evaluated Tc-maraciclatide, an integrin-specific tracer, for imaging vascular inflammation in atherosclerotic lesions in mice. Methods: Apolipoprotein E-negative (ApoE) mice on a Western diet ( n = 10) and normally fed adult C57BL/6 control mice ( n = 4) were injected with Tc-maraciclatide (51.8 ± 3.7 MBq). A blocking peptide was infused in three ApoE mice; this condition served as another control. After 90 min, the animals were imaged via single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). While maintained in the same position, the mice were transferred to computed tomography (CT) to obtain contrast-enhanced images of the aortic arch. Images from both modalities were fused, and signal was quantified in the aortic arch and in the vena cava for subtraction of blood-pool activity. The aorta was carefully dissected after imaging for gamma counting, autoradiography, and histology. Results: Tracer uptake was significantly higher in ApoE mice than in both groups of control mice (1.56 ± 0.33 vs. 0.82 ± 0.24 vs. 0.98 ± 0.11, respectively; P = 0.006). Furthermore, higher tracer activity was detected via gamma counting in the aorta of hypercholesterolemic mice than in both groups of control mice (1.52 ± 0.43 vs. 0.78 ± 0.19 vs. 0.47 ± 0.31 Tc-maraciclatide %ID/g, respectively; P = 0.018). Autoradiography showed significantly higher tracer uptake in the atherosclerotic aorta than in the control aorta ( P = 0.026). Finally, in the atherosclerotic aorta, immunostaining indicated that the integrin signal came predominantly from macrophages and was correlated with the macrophage CD68 immunomarker ( r = 0.73). Conclusions: Tc-maraciclatide allows in vivo detection of inflamed atherosclerotic plaques in mice and may represent a non-invasive approach for identifying high-risk plaques in patients.
- Publication
EJNMMI Research, 2016, Vol 6, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2191-219X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1186/s13550-016-0184-9