TY - JOUR
T1 - 18F-FDG PET/MR-imaging in a Göttingen Minipig model of atherosclerosis
T2 - Correlations with histology and quantitative gene expression
AU - Ludvigsen, Trine P
AU - Pedersen, Sune F
AU - Vegge, Andreas
AU - Ripa, Rasmus S
AU - Johannesen, Helle H
AU - Hansen, Adam E
AU - Löfgren, Johan
AU - Schumacher-Petersen, Camilla
AU - Kirk, Rikke K.
AU - Pedersen, Henrik D
AU - Christoffersen, Berit Ø
AU - Ørbæk, Mathilde
AU - Forman, Julie L
AU - Klausen, Thomas L
AU - Olsen, Lisbeth H
AU - Kjaer, Andreas
N1 - Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2019/6
Y1 - 2019/6
N2 - Background and aims: The advantage of combining molecular and morphological imaging, e.g. positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI), is reflected in the increased use of these modalities as surrogate end-points in clinical trials. This study aimed at evaluating plaque inflammation using 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose ( 18 F-FDG)-PET/MRI, and gene expression in a minipig model of atherosclerosis. Methods: Göttingen Minipigs were fed for 60 weeks with fat/fructose/cholesterol-rich diet (FFC), chow (Control) or FFC-diet changed to chow midway (diet normalization group; DNO). In all groups, 18 F-FDG-PET/MRI of the abdominal aorta was assessed midway and at study-end. The aorta was analyzed using histology and gene expression. Results: At study-end, FFC had significantly higher FDG-uptake compared to Control (target-to-background maximal uptake, TBR Max (95% confidence interval) CI TBRMax : 0.092; 7.32) and DNO showed significantly decreased uptake compared to FFC (CI TBRMax : -5.94;-0.07). No difference was observed between DNO and Control (CI TBRMax : −2.71; 4.11). FFC displayed increased atherosclerosis and gene expression of inflammatory markers, including vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), cluster of differentiation 68 (CD68), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), cathepsin K (CTSK) and secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) compared to Control and DNO (all, p < 0.05). FDG-uptake correlated with gene expression of inflammatory markers, including CD68, ρ s = 0.58; MMP9, ρ s = 0.46; SPP1, ρ s = 0.44 and CTSK, ρ s = 0.49; (p ≤ 0.01 for all). Conclusions: In a model of atherosclerosis, 18 F-FDG-PET/MRI technology allows for detection of inflammation in atherosclerotic plaques, consistent with increased inflammatory gene expression. Our findings corroborate clinical data and are important in pre-clinical drug development targeting plaque inflammation.
AB - Background and aims: The advantage of combining molecular and morphological imaging, e.g. positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI), is reflected in the increased use of these modalities as surrogate end-points in clinical trials. This study aimed at evaluating plaque inflammation using 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose ( 18 F-FDG)-PET/MRI, and gene expression in a minipig model of atherosclerosis. Methods: Göttingen Minipigs were fed for 60 weeks with fat/fructose/cholesterol-rich diet (FFC), chow (Control) or FFC-diet changed to chow midway (diet normalization group; DNO). In all groups, 18 F-FDG-PET/MRI of the abdominal aorta was assessed midway and at study-end. The aorta was analyzed using histology and gene expression. Results: At study-end, FFC had significantly higher FDG-uptake compared to Control (target-to-background maximal uptake, TBR Max (95% confidence interval) CI TBRMax : 0.092; 7.32) and DNO showed significantly decreased uptake compared to FFC (CI TBRMax : -5.94;-0.07). No difference was observed between DNO and Control (CI TBRMax : −2.71; 4.11). FFC displayed increased atherosclerosis and gene expression of inflammatory markers, including vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), cluster of differentiation 68 (CD68), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), cathepsin K (CTSK) and secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) compared to Control and DNO (all, p < 0.05). FDG-uptake correlated with gene expression of inflammatory markers, including CD68, ρ s = 0.58; MMP9, ρ s = 0.46; SPP1, ρ s = 0.44 and CTSK, ρ s = 0.49; (p ≤ 0.01 for all). Conclusions: In a model of atherosclerosis, 18 F-FDG-PET/MRI technology allows for detection of inflammation in atherosclerotic plaques, consistent with increased inflammatory gene expression. Our findings corroborate clinical data and are important in pre-clinical drug development targeting plaque inflammation.
U2 - 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2019.04.209
DO - 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2019.04.209
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 31004968
SN - 0021-9150
VL - 285
SP - 55
EP - 63
JO - Atherosclerosis
JF - Atherosclerosis
ER -