Cell therapy in murine atherosclerosis: in vivo imaging with high-resolution helical SPECT.
PURPOSE: To determine the feasibility of in vivo localization and quantification of indium 111 (111In)-oxine-labeled bone marrow (BM) with high-resolution whole-body helical single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in an established murine model of atherosclerosis and vascular repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The institutional animal care and use committee approved this study. BM from young B6 Rosa 26 Lac Z+/+ mice was radiolabeled with 111In-oxine. On days 1, 4, and 7 after administration of radiolabeled cells, five C57/BL6 apolipoprotein E-deficient mice and five wild-type (WT) control mice were imaged with whole-body high-resolution helical SPECT. Quantification with SPECT was compared with ex vivo analysis by means of gamma counting. Autoradiography and beta-galactosidase staining were used to verify donor cell biodistribution. Linear regression was used to assess the correlation between continuous variables. Two-tailed Student t test was used to compare values between groups, and paired two-tailed t test was used to assess changes within subjects at different time points. RESULTS: SPECT image contrast was high, with clear visualization of BM, liver, and spleen 7 days after administration of radiolabeled cells. SPECT revealed that 42% and 58% more activity was localized to the aorta and BM (P<.05 for both), respectively, in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice versus WT mice. Furthermore, 28% and 27% less activity was localized to the liver and spleen (P<.05 for both), respectively, in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice versus WT mice. SPECT and organ gamma counts showed good quantitative correlation (r=0.9). beta-Galactosidase staining and microautoradiography of recipient aortas showed donor cell localization to the intima of visible atherosclerotic plaque but not to unaffected regions of the vessel wall. CONCLUSION: High-resolution in vivo helical pinhole SPECT can be used to monitor and quantify early biodistribution of 111In-oxine-labeled BM in a murine model of progenitor cell therapy for atherosclerosis.
Duke Scholars
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- Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
- Radiopharmaceuticals
- Oxyquinoline
- Organometallic Compounds
- Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice
- Image Enhancement
- Feasibility Studies
Citation
Published In
DOI
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
- Radiopharmaceuticals
- Oxyquinoline
- Organometallic Compounds
- Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice
- Image Enhancement
- Feasibility Studies