Molecular imaging of cathepsin B proteolytic enzyme activity reflects the inflammatory component of atherosclerotic pathology and can quantitatively demonstrate the antiatherosclerotic therapeutic effects of atorvastatin and glucosamine.
Inflammation in atherosclerotic plaques causes plaque vulnerability and rupture, leading to thromboembolic complications. Cathepsin B (CatB) proteases secreted by macrophages play a major role in plaque inflammation. We used a CatB-activatable near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging agent to demonstrate the inflammatory component in mice atheromata and the atherosclerosis- modulating effects of atorvastatin or glucosamine treatments. Apolipoprotein E knockout mice (n = 35) were fed normal chow, a Western diet, a Western diet + atorvastatin, a Western diet + glucosamine, or a Western diet + atorvastatin + glucosamine for 14 weeks. Twenty-four hours after the intravenous injection of a CatB-activatable probe, ex vivo NIRF imaging of the aortas and brains was performed, followed by histology. The CatB-related signal, observed in the aortas but not in the cerebral arteries, correlated very well with protease activity and the presence of macrophages on histology. Animals on Western diets could be distinguished from animals on a normal diet. The antiatherosclerotic effects of atorvastatin and glucosamine could be demonstrated, with reduced CatB-related signal compared with untreated animals. Plaque populations were heterogeneous within individuals, with some plaques showing a high and others a lower CatB-related signal. These differences in signal intensity could not be predicted by visual inspection of the plaques but did correlate with histologic evidence of inflammation in every case. This suggests that vulnerable inflamed plaques can be identified by optical molecular imaging.
Department of Neurology, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Republic of Korea. kdongeog@duih.org
Dong-Eog
DE
Kim
Jeong-Yeon
JY
Kim
Dawid
D
Schellingerhout
Soo-Min
SM
Shon
Sang-Wuk
SW
Jeong
Eo-Jin
EJ
Kim
Woo Kyung
WK
Kim
D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002401:Cathepsin B / Q000378:metabolism*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005453:Fluorescence; D005944:Glucosamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002401:Cathepsin B; D005944:Glucosamine