Imaging of Oxidation-Specific Epitopes in Atherosclerosis and Macrophage-Rich Vulnerable Plaques

• DOI: 10.1007/s12410-010-9060-6
• Publication Date: 2010-11-30T09:23:24Z
• Authors: Karen C. Briley-S...; Young Seok Cho; Sotirios Tsimikas
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences; Article

Oxidative stress, and in particular oxidation of lipoproteins, is a hallmark atherosclerosis. Upon entry lipoproteins into the vessel wall, cascade pro-atherogenic pathways initiated whereby reaction reactive oxygen species with substrates amenable to oxidation, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, generates variety oxidation-specific epitopes on proteins apoptotic macrophages. Several these have been well characterized specific murine fully human antibodies generated our laboratory detect them wall. We developed radionuclide, gadolinium iron oxide based MRI techniques noninvasively image atherosclerotic lesions. These approaches quantitate plaque burden also allow detection atherosclerosis regression stabilization. In particular, micelles or lipid-coated ultrasmall superparamagnetic particles containing accumulate within macrophages artery suggesting they may most unstable plaques. Translation humans sensitive technique monitor high-risk lesions guide optimal therapeutic interventions.