A Novel iRFP-Incorporated in vivo Murine Atherosclerosis Imaging System.

ABSTRACT: By using near-infrared fluorescent protein (iRFP)-expressing hematopoietic cells, we established a novel, quantitative, in vivo, noninvasive atherosclerosis imaging system. This murine atherosclerosis imaging approach targets macrophages expressing iRFP in plaques. Low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (LDLR^-/-) mice transplanted with beta-actin promoter-derived iRFP transgenic (TG) mouse bone marrow (BM) cells (iRFP → LDLR^-/-) were used. Atherosclerosis was induced by a nonfluorescent 1.25% cholesterol diet (HCD). Atherosclerosis was compared among the three differently induced mouse groups. iRFP → LDLR^-/- mice fed a normal diet (ND) and LDLR^-/- mice transplanted with wild-type (WT) BM cells were used as controls. The in vivo imaging system

SUBMITTER: Kulathunga K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6162307 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature