title: Diet intervention reduces uptake of αvβ3 integrin-targeted PET tracer 18F-galacto-RGD in mouse atherosclerotic plaques.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Expression of α(v)β(3) integrin has been proposed as a marker for atherosclerotic lesion inflammation. We studied whether diet intervention reduces uptake of α(v)β(3) integrin-targeted positron emission tomography tracer (18)F-galacto-RGD in mouse atherosclerotic plaques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hypercholesterolemic LDLR(-/-) ApoB(100/100) mice on high-fat diet for 4 months were randomized to further 3 months on high-fat diet (high-fat group, n = 8) or regular mouse chow (intervention group, n = 7). Intima-media ratio describing plaque burden was comparable between intervention and high-fat groups (2.0 ± 0.5 vs 2.3 ± 0.8, P = .5). Uptake of (18)F-galacto-RGD in the aorta was lower in the intervention than high-fat group (%ID/g 0.16 vs 0.23, P < .01). Autoradiography showed 35% lower uptake of (18)F-galacto-RGD in the atherosclerotic plaques in the intervention than high-fat group (P = .007). Uptake of (18)F-galacto-RGD in plaques correlated with uptake of (3)H-deoxyglucose and nuclear density, which was lower in the intervention than high-fat group (P = .01). Flow cytometry demonstrated macrophages expressing α(v) and β(3) integrins in the aorta.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Uptake of (18)F-galacto-RGD in mouse atherosclerotic lesions was reduced by lipid-lowering diet intervention. Expression of α(v)β(3) integrin is a potential target for evaluation of therapy response in atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Nuklearmedizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Nuklearmedizinische Klinik der TU München, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str 22, 81675 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saraste
authors.forename: Iina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Laitinen
authors.forename: Eliane
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weidl
authors.forename: Moritz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wildgruber
authors.forename: Axel W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Stephan G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Nekolla
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hölzlwimmer
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walch
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leppänen
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lisinen
authors.forename: Peter B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Luppa
authors.forename: Seppo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ylä-Herttuala
authors.forename: Hans-Jürgen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Wester
authors.forename: Juhani
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Knuuti
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwaiger
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000378:metabolism; D001345:Autoradiography / Q000379:methods; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D005690:Galactose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000235:genetics; D007249:Inflammation; D039302:Integrin alphaVbeta3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000178:diet therapy*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D039302:Integrin alphaVbeta3; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C423503:fluorogalacto-RGD; D002784:Cholesterol; D005690:Galactose