Molecular imaging of inflammation in the ApoE -/- mouse model of atherosclerosis with IodoDPA.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Atherosclerosis is a common and serious vascular disease predisposing individuals to myocardial infarction and stroke. Intravascular plaques, the pathologic lesions of atherosclerosis, are largely composed of cholesterol-laden luminal macrophage-rich infiltrates within a fibrous cap. The ability to detect those macrophages non-invasively within the aorta, carotid artery and other vessels would allow physicians to determine plaque burden, aiding management of patients with atherosclerosis.

Methods and results

We previously developed a low-molecular-weight imaging agent, [(125)I]iodo-DPA-713 (iodoDPA), which selectively targets macrophages. Here we use it to detect both intravascular macrophages and macrophage infiltrates within the myocardium in the ApoE -/- mouse

SUBMITTER: Foss CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4426030 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature