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In Vivo Molecular Imaging of Apoptosisand Necrosis in Atherosclerotic PlaquesUsing MicroSPECT-CT and MicroPET-CT Imaging

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study molecular imaging of apoptosis and necrosis, two key players in atherosclerosis instability, using a multimodal imaging approach combining single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), and computed tomography (CT).

Procedures

Collar-induced carotid atherosclerosis ApoE knockout mice were imaged with 99mTc-AnxAF568 SPECT-CT to study apoptosis and sequentially with PET-CT following 124I-Hypericin (124I-Hyp) injection to visualize necrosis.

Results

SPECT depicted increased 99mTc-AnxAF568 uptake in both atherosclerotic carotid arteries, whereas our data suggest that this uptake is not merely apoptosis related. Although PET of 124I-Hyp was hampered by the slow blood clearance in atherosclerotic mice, 124I-Hyp was able to target necrosis in the atherosclerotic plaque.

Conclusion

Both 99mTc-AnxAF568 and 124I-Hyp uptake are increased in atherosclerotic carotid vasculature compared to control arteries. While apoptosis imaging remains challenging, necrosis imaging can be feasible after improving the biodistribution characteristics of the probe.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the CTMM project 01C-204-03 EMINENCE and the Weijerhorst project. We would also like to acknowledge Christian Urbach and Ans Houben for their technical support in this study.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear Medicine, MUMC, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    M. De Saint-Hubert, M. Bauwens, M. Drummen, K. Douma, G. Hendrikx, J. Bucerius & F. M. Mottaghy

  2. Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), MUMC, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    M. De Saint-Hubert, K. Douma, G. Hendrikx & J. Bucerius

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    N. Deckers, D. Kusters & C. P. M. Reutelingsperger

  4. Maastro Clinic, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    P. Granton

  5. Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany

    J. Bucerius & F. M. Mottaghy

Authors
  1. M. De Saint-Hubert
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  2. M. Bauwens
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  3. N. Deckers
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  4. M. Drummen
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  5. K. Douma
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  6. P. Granton
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  7. G. Hendrikx
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  8. D. Kusters
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  9. J. Bucerius
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  10. C. P. M. Reutelingsperger
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  11. F. M. Mottaghy
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. De Saint-Hubert.

Additional information

M. De Saint-Hubert and M. Bauwens contributed equally.

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De Saint-Hubert, M., Bauwens, M., Deckers, N. et al. In Vivo Molecular Imaging of Apoptosisand Necrosis in Atherosclerotic PlaquesUsing MicroSPECT-CT and MicroPET-CT Imaging. Mol Imaging Biol 16, 246–254 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11307-013-0677-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11307-013-0677-0

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