title: Detection of Apoptotic Cells in a Rabbit Model with Atherosclerosis-Like Lesions Using the Positron Emission Tomography Radiotracer [18F]ML-10.
abstract: [18F]ML-10 (2-(5-fluoro-pentyl)-2-methylmalonic acid) is a positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer that accumulates in cells presenting apoptosis-specific membrane alterations. The aim of this study was to test whether [18F]ML-10 allows for the detection of apoptotic cells located in atherosclerotic plaques in rabbits. Atherosclerotic plaques were induced in the aortas of five rabbits, and five additional rabbits were used as controls. Activity in the aortas was quantified in vivo and ex vivo. The localization of [18F]ML-10 to the aortic wall was identified by autoradiography. Average target to background ratios measured in vivo by PET were higher in the aortas of atherosclerotic rabbits compared with those of control rabbits (2.00 ± 0.52 vs 1.22 ± 0.30; p < .05). Differences in [18F]ML-10 uptake between atherosclerotic and control aortas were confirmed ex vivo by PET and gamma counting (23.9 ± 11.2 vs 1.1 ± 2.4 counts/pixel; p <.05; 3.6 ± 2.0 vs 0.05 ± 0.05 % of injected activity/g; p < .05, respectively). Strong correlation was observed between the accumulation of [18F]ML-10 in aortic segments as detected by autoradiography and the number of apoptotic cells on corresponding histologic sections (r2 = .75; p < .05). In this study, we found that atherosclerotic plaques rich in apoptotic cells can be detected with [18F]ML-10 and PET.
authors.forename: Fabien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hyafil
authors.forename: Alexy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tran-Dinh
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burg
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leygnac
authors.forename: Liliane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Louedec
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milliner
authors.forename: Rana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ben Azzouna
authors.forename: Ayelet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reshef
authors.forename: Miri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ben Ami
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Meilhac
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Le Guludec
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008764:Methylmalonic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011817:Rabbits; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C532430:5-fluoropentyl-2-methylmalonic acid; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D008764:Methylmalonic Acid