PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Ohshima, Satoru
AU  - Petrov, Artiom
AU  - Fujimoto, Shinichiro
AU  - Kolodgie, Frank
AU  - Virmani, Renu
AU  - Tsimikas, Sotirios
AU  - Levashova, Zoia
AU  - Murohara, Toyoaki
AU  - Backer, Joseph
AU  - Blankenberg, Francis
AU  - Narula, Jagat
TI  - Imaging of neovascularization in atherosclerotic plaque with 99mTc-labeled single chain VEGF: Proof of concept for imaging vulnerable plaque
DP  - 2007 May 01
TA  - Journal of Nuclear Medicine
PG  - 166P--166P
VI  - 48
IP  - supplement 2
4099  - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/48/supplement_2/166P.3.short
4100  - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/48/supplement_2/166P.3.full
SO  - J Nucl Med2007 May 01; 48
AB  - 564 Objectives: Adventitial vasa vasorum proliferation and neointimal neovascularization are associated with intraplaque hemorrhage, expansion of necrotic core and hence plaque vulnerability. Increased expression of VEGF and its receptors accompany neoangiogenic process. We used Tc-99m labeled single chain VEGF (TcV) for developing potentially noninvasive imaging modality and compared it with Tc-99m labeled RGD probe targeting αvβ3 integrin (TcAB) within neovasculature. Methods: Noninvasive radionuclide imaging was performed with either TcV (6.85±0.27mCi) or TcAB (7.02±0.07mCi) in 12 NZW rabbits receiving high cholesterol diet (0.2% cholesterol, 4% fat) for one year and compared with 5 control rabbits receiving normal rabbit chow. Four hours after intravenous administration of TcV or TcAB, micro SPECT/microCT imaging was performed for in vivo localization of tracer activity. Aortas were then explanted, and gamma counted for determination of % injected dose per gram (%ID/g). The aortas were then submitted for histopathologic characterization. Results: Uptake in thoracic aorta was clearly visualized non-invasively both by TcV and TcAB in vivo imaging in 6 of 9 rabbits in hypercholesterolemic rabbits, but not in the control animals. The % ID/g of aortic arch in hypercholesterolemic rabbits (0.032±0.021%) was higher than that in control group (0.014±0.004%) in TcV group. The uptake of TcAB in hypercholesterolemic rabbits (0.039±0.015%) was also higher than that in control group (0.028±0.001%). Conclusions: This preliminary study suggests a potentially novel strategy for non-invasive imaging of neoangiogenesis in atherosclerotic plaque and may allow identification of unstable plaques.