Noninvasive detection of macrophages using a nanoparticulate contrast agent for computed tomography.
Sudden fibrous cap disruption of 'high-risk' atherosclerotic plaques can trigger the formation of an occlusive thrombus in coronary arteries, causing acute coronary syndromes. High-risk atherosclerotic plaques are characterized by their specific cellular and biological content (in particular, a high density of macrophages), rather than by their impact on the vessel lumen. Early identification of high-risk plaques may be useful for preventing ischemic events. One major hurdle in detecting high-risk atherosclerotic plaques in coronary arteries is the lack of an imaging modality that allows for the identification of atherosclerotic plaque composition with high spatial and temporal resolutions. Here we show that macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques of rabbits can be detected with a clinical X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanner after the intravenous injection of a contrast agent formed of iodinated nanoparticles dispersed with surfactant. This contrast agent may become an important adjunct to the clinical evaluation of coronary arteries with CT.
Hyafil
Fabien
F
Sinai Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute and Imaging Science Laboratories, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, New York 10029, USA.
Cornily
Jean-Christophe
JC
Feig
Jonathan E
JE
Gordon
Ronald
R
Vucic
Esad
E
Amirbekian
Vardan
V
Fisher
Edward A
EA
Fuster
Valentin
V
Feldman
Laurent J
LJ
Fayad
Zahi A
ZA
D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine; D007700:Kinetics; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D053758:Nanoparticles; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media; D007455:Iodine