title: Micro-ultrasonographic imaging of atherosclerotic progression and correlation with inflammatory markers in apolipoprotein-E knockout mice.
abstract: We studied prospectively whether atherosclerotic progression in apolipoprotein-E knockout mice could be noninvasively and accurately measured by use of high-resolution ultrasonographic biomicroscopy. We examined the correlation between the ultrasonographic characterization of ascending aortic atherosclerotic plaque and plasma C-reactive protein, interleukin-1, and interleukin-6 levels in these mice.In 4 age groups (8, 16, 24, and 32 wk) of 8 male knockout mice each (atherosclerotic groups) and age-matched male C57BL/6 mice (control groups), we used ultrasonographic biomicroscopy to measure maximal plaque thickness or intima-media thickness in the ascending aorta. We compared the findings with corresponding histologic measurements, and we measured plasma C-reactive protein, interleukin-1, and interleukin-6 levels in each group.Mean atherosclerotic thicknesses and C-reactive protein and interleukin levels were significantly higher in each atherosclerotic group than in the control groups (all P < 0.05). Ultrasonographically measured atherosclerotic thickness correlated well with histologic measurements of the same vascular regions (r = 0.81, P < 0.001). C-reactive protein levels increased concomitantly with age in the knockout mice, and ultrasonographically measured atherosclerotic thickness correlated with those levels (r = 0.626, P < 0.001). However, there was no correlation between plasma interleukin levels and atherosclerotic severity as measured by ultrasonographic biomicroscopy.In the apolipoprotein-E knockout mice, we found that measurements of intima-media or maximal plaque thickness by ultrasonographic biomicroscopy noninvasively and accurately detected atherosclerotic progression, that plasma C-reactive protein levels correlated with atherosclerosis, and that elevated plasma C-reactive protein levels correlated with atherosclerotic severity.
authors.affiliation: Ultrasound Department, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Rong-Juan
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yan-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jin-Jie
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yao-Zhong
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yan-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Zhi-An
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao-Shan
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000276:immunology*; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D033401:Microscopy, Acoustic / Q000295:instrumentation; D008904:Miniaturization; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein