Molecular imaging of the initial inflammatory response in atherosclerosis: implications for early detection of disease.

ABSTRACT:

Unlabelled

Background- We hypothesized that molecular imaging of endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression could noninvasively evaluate prelesion atherogenic phenotype.

Methods and results

Mice deficient for the LDL-receptor and the Apobec-1 editing peptide (DKO mice) were studied as an age-dependent model of atherosclerosis. At 10, 20, and 40 weeks of age, ultrasound molecular imaging of the proximal thoracic aorta was performed with contrast agents targeted to P-selectin and VCAM-1. Atherosclerotic lesion severity and content were assessed by ultrahigh frequency ultrasound, histology, and immunohistochemistry. In wild-type mice at all ages, there was neither aortic thickening nor targeted tracer signal enhancement. In DKO mice, lesions progressed from sparse mild intim

SUBMITTER: Kaufmann BA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2814530 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature