MR molecular imaging of aortic angiogenesis

Kejia Cai, Shelton D. Caruthers, Wenjing Huang, Todd A. Williams, Huiying Zhang, Samuel A. Wickline, Gregory M. Lanza, Patrick M. Winter

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to use magnetic resonance (MR) molecular imaging to 1) characterize the aortic neovascular development in a rat model of atherosclerosis and 2) monitor the effects of an appetite suppressant on vascular angiogenesis progression. Background: The James C. Russell:LA corpulent rat strain (JCR:LA-cp) is a model of metabolic syndrome characterized by obesity, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, and vasculopathy, although plaque neovascularity has not been reported in this strain. MR molecular imaging with ανβ3-targeted nanoparticles can serially map angiogenesis in the aortic wall and monitor the progression of atherosclerosis. Methods: Six-week old JCR:LA-cp (+/?; lean, n = 5) and JCR:LA-cp (cp/cp; obese, n = 5) rats received standard chow, and 6 obese rats were fed the appetite suppressant benfluorex over 16 weeks. Body weight and food consumption were recorded at baseline and weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16. MR molecular imaging with ανβ3-targeted paramagnetic nanoparticles was performed at weeks 0, 8, and 16. Fasted plasma triglyceride, cholesterol, and glucose were measured immediately before MR scans. Plasma insulin and leptin levels were assayed at weeks 8 and 16. Results: Benfluorex reduced food consumption (p < 0.05) to the same rate as lean animals, but had no effect on serum cholesterol or triglyceride levels. MR (3-T) aortic signal enhancement with ανβ3- targeted nanoparticles was initially equivalent between groups, but increased (p < 0.05) in the untreated obese animals over 16 weeks. No signal change (p > 0.05) was observed in the benfluorex-treated or lean rat groups. MR differences paralleled adventitial microvessel counts, which increased (p < 0.05) among the obese rats and were equivalently low in the lean and benfluorex-treated animals (p > 0.05). Body weight, insulin, and leptin were decreased (p < 0.05) from the untreated obese animals by benfluorex, but not to the lean control levels (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Neovascular expansion is a prominent feature of the JCR:LA-cp model. MR imaging with α νβ3-targeted nanoparticles provided a noninvasive assessment of angiogenesis in untreated obese rats, which was suppressed by benfluorex.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)824-832
Number of pages9
JournalJACC: Cardiovascular Imaging
Volume3
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2010

Keywords

  • JCR:LA-cp
  • James C. Russell:LA corpulent rat strain
  • MR
  • magnetic resonance

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'MR molecular imaging of aortic angiogenesis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this