Dataset Information

Molecular imaging of vasa vasorum neovascularization via DEspR-targeted contrast-enhanced ultrasound micro-imaging in transgenic atherosclerosis rat model.

ABSTRACT: PURPOSE:Given that carotid vasa vasorum neovascularization is associated with increased risk for stroke and cardiac events, the present in vivo study was designed to investigate molecular imaging of carotid artery vasa vasorum neovascularization via target-specific contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEU) micro-imaging. PROCEDURES:Molecular imaging was performed in male transgenic rats with carotid artery disease and non-transgenic controls using dual endothelin1/VEGFsp receptor (DEspR)-targeted microbubbles (MB(D)) and the Vevo770 micro-imaging system and CEU imaging software. RESULTS:DEspR-targeted CEU-positive imaging exhibited significantly higher contrast intensity signal (CIS)-levels and pre-/post-destruction CIS-differences in seven of 13 transgenic rats, in contrast to significantly lower CIS-levels and differences in control isotype-targeted microbubble (MB(C))-CEU imaging (n = 8) and in MB(D) CEU-imaging of five non-transgenic control rats (P < 0.0001). Ex vivo immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated binding of MB(D) to DEspR-positive endothelial cells; and association of DEspR-targeted increased contrast intensity signals with DEspR expression in vasa vasorum neovessel and intimal lesions. In vitro analysis demonstrated dose-dependent binding of MB(D) to DEspR-positive human endothelial cells with increasing %cells bound and number of MB(D) per cell, in contrast to MB(C) or non-labeled microbubbles (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION:In vivo DEspR-targeted molecular imaging detected increased DEspR-expression in carotid artery lesions and in expanded vasa vasorum neovessels in transgenic rats with carotid artery disease. Future studies are needed to determine predictive value for stroke or heart disease in this transgenic atherosclerosis rat model and translational applications.

SUBMITTER: Decano JL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3119765 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Molecular imaging of vasa vasorum neovascularization via DEspR-targeted contrast-enhanced ultrasound micro-imaging in transgenic atherosclerosis rat model.

Decano Julius L JL Moran Anne Marie AM Ruiz-Opazo Nelson N Herrera Victoria L M VL

Molecular imaging and biology 20111201 6

<h4>Purpose</h4>Given that carotid vasa vasorum neovascularization is associated with increased risk for stroke and cardiac events, the present in vivo study was designed to investigate molecular imaging of carotid artery vasa vasorum neovascularization via target-specific contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEU) micro-imaging.<h4>Procedures</h4>Molecular imaging was performed in male transgenic rats with carotid artery disease and non-transgenic controls using dual endothelin1/VEGFsp receptor (DEspR) ...[more]

PMID: 20972637

Similar Datasets

Project description:PurposeTo investigate whether short-term, intensive lipid therapy leads to changes in microvascular characteristics, as measured by using dynamic contrast material-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.Materials and methodsInstitutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained for this HIPAA-compatible study. Subjects with established coronary artery disease or carotid artery stenosis of 15% or greater determined by using ultrasonography and with levels of apolipoprotein B of 120 mg/dL (1.2 g/L) or greater were enrolled in an ongoing study (clinical trial NCT00715273). All received intensive lipid therapy to achieve targeted high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and underwent serial serum monitoring including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HsCRP) level measurements. Carotid artery MR imaging examinations including morphologic and DCE MR images were obtained at baseline and 1 year after treatment. In subjects with advanced lesions (>2 mm thick), MR image analysis was performed, including measurement of lipid-rich necrotic core size and kinetic modeling of DCE MR images to assess changes in the transfer constant (K(trans)). The differences in K(trans) between baseline and 1-year follow-up were compared by using the Wilcoxon signed rank test, and associations were assessed by using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient.ResultsTwenty-eight subjects with interpretable DCE MR imaging results at both baseline and 1-year follow-up were included. After 1 year of treatment, a significant reduction was found in mean K(trans) (0.085 min(-1) ± 0.037 [standard deviation] to 0.067 min(-1) ± 0.028, P = .02). Reduction in K(trans) was not significantly correlated with observed reductions in lipid-rich necrotic core size or reductions in HsCRP level.ConclusionThese findings suggest that DCE MR imaging may be a useful imaging method for the assessment of the therapeutic response of the vasa vasorum in patients with atherosclerotic plaque.

Dataset Information

Molecular imaging of vasa vasorum neovascularization via DEspR-targeted contrast-enhanced ultrasound micro-imaging in transgenic atherosclerosis rat model.

Publications

Molecular imaging of vasa vasorum neovascularization via DEspR-targeted contrast-enhanced ultrasound micro-imaging in transgenic atherosclerosis rat model.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets