Development of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging Protocol for the Characterization of Atherosclerotic Plaque by Using Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 and Apoptosis-Targeted Ultrasmall Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Derivatives

• DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.112.245415
• Publication Date: 2012-04-21T00:54:53Z
• Authors: Carmen Burtea; Sébastien Ballet; Sophie Laurent; Olivier Rousseaux; Anne Dencausse; Walter Gonzalez; Marc Port; Claire Corot; Luce Vander Elst; Robert N. Muller
• Keywords: Mice, Knockout; 0303 health sciences; Macrophages; Aortic Diseases; Contrast Media; Apoptosis; Dextrans; Atherosclerosis; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; 3. Good health; Disease Models, Animal; Jurkat Cells; Mice; Necrosis; 03 medical and health sciences; Apolipoproteins E; Injections, Intravenous; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; Animals; Humans; Female; Aorta, Abdominal; Magnetite Nanoparticles

Acute ischemic events are often caused by the disruption of lipid-rich plaques, which frequently not angiographically visible. Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and apoptotic cell-targeted peptides studied during our previous work were conjugated to ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) (USPIO-R832 for vascular targeting; USPIO-R826 apoptosis targeting) assessed magnetic resonance imaging.Apolipoprotein E knockout mice injected with 0.1 mmol Fe/kg body weight imaged on a 4.7-T Bruker imaging until 24 hours after contrast agent administration. Aortic samples then harvested examined histochemistry, images histological micrographs analyzed ImageJ software. The plaques enhanced USPIO-R832 contained macrophages concentrated in cap large necrotic core, whereas produced negative enhancement rich neutral fats inside plaque. Both USPIO derivatives colocalized their target sections able detect vulnerable morphology, but each one is detecting specific environment.Our targeted seem be highly promising tools atherosclerosis contributing detection plaques. They attain low doses as fast 30 minutes