TY - JOUR
T1 - Microvessel Density But Not Neoangiogenesis Is Associated with (18)F-FDG Uptake in Human Atherosclerotic Carotid Plaques
AU - Pedersen, Sune Folke
AU - Græbe, Martin
AU - Hag, Anne Mette Fisker
AU - Højgaard, Liselotte
AU - Sillesen, Henrik
AU - Kjær, Andreas
PY - 2012/6
Y1 - 2012/6
N2 - Introduction: The vulnerable atherosclerotic lesion exhibits the proliferation of neovessels and inflammation. The imaging modality 2-deoxy-2-[ 18F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography ( 18FDG-PET) is considered for the identification of vulnerable plaques. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the gene expression of neoangiogenesis and vulnerability-associated genes with 18FDG uptake in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. Procedures: Human atherosclerotic carotid artery plaques from symptomatic patients were used for gene expression analysis by quantitative PCR of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and integrin βV and integrin β 3 subunits, genes essential during neoangiogenesis. We also evaluated the gene expression of CD34, a measure of microvessel density (MVD), as well as CD68, MMP-9, and cathepsin K, genes of major importance in plaque vulnerability. Gene expression analysis was compared with 18FDG-PET. Results: VEGF and integrin α Vβ 3 gene expression did not correlate with 18FDG uptake, whereas CD34 gene expression exhibited an inverse correlation with 18FDG uptake. Additionally, we established that markers of vulnerability were correlated with 18FDG uptake. Conclusions: Neoangiogenesis is not associated with 18FDG uptake, whereas MVD and markers of vulnerability correlate with 18FDG uptake. The absence of correlation between markers of neoangiogenesis and 18FDG uptake suggests a temporal separation between the process of neoangiogenesis and inflammatory activity.
AB - Introduction: The vulnerable atherosclerotic lesion exhibits the proliferation of neovessels and inflammation. The imaging modality 2-deoxy-2-[ 18F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography ( 18FDG-PET) is considered for the identification of vulnerable plaques. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the gene expression of neoangiogenesis and vulnerability-associated genes with 18FDG uptake in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. Procedures: Human atherosclerotic carotid artery plaques from symptomatic patients were used for gene expression analysis by quantitative PCR of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and integrin βV and integrin β 3 subunits, genes essential during neoangiogenesis. We also evaluated the gene expression of CD34, a measure of microvessel density (MVD), as well as CD68, MMP-9, and cathepsin K, genes of major importance in plaque vulnerability. Gene expression analysis was compared with 18FDG-PET. Results: VEGF and integrin α Vβ 3 gene expression did not correlate with 18FDG uptake, whereas CD34 gene expression exhibited an inverse correlation with 18FDG uptake. Additionally, we established that markers of vulnerability were correlated with 18FDG uptake. Conclusions: Neoangiogenesis is not associated with 18FDG uptake, whereas MVD and markers of vulnerability correlate with 18FDG uptake. The absence of correlation between markers of neoangiogenesis and 18FDG uptake suggests a temporal separation between the process of neoangiogenesis and inflammatory activity.
U2 - 10.1007/s11307-011-0507-1
DO - 10.1007/s11307-011-0507-1
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 21732164
SN - 1536-1632
VL - 14
SP - 384
EP - 392
JO - Molecular Imaging and Biology
JF - Molecular Imaging and Biology
IS - 3
ER -