Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Non-specific binding of [18F]FDG to calcifications in atherosclerotic plaques: experimental study of mouse and human arteries

  • Original article
  • Published:
European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

[18F]FDG has been used as an inflammation marker and shown to accumulate in inflammatory atherosclerotic plaques. The aim of this study was to investigate the uptake and location of [18F]FDG in atherosclerotic plaque compartments.

Methods

The biodistribution of intravenously administered [18F]FDG was analysed in atherosclerotic LDLR/ApoB48 mice (n=11) and control mice (n=9). Digital autoradiography was used to detect the ex vivo distribution in frozen aortic sections. In vitro binding of [18F]FDG in human atherosclerotic arteries was also examined.

Results

The uptake of [18F]FDG was significantly higher in the aorta of atherosclerotic mice as compared with the control mice. Autoradiography of excised arteries showed higher [18F]FDG uptake in the plaques than in the healthy vessel wall (mean ratio ±SD 2.7±1.1). The uptake of [18F]FDG in the necrotic, calcified sites of the advanced atherosclerotic lesions was 6.2±3.2 times higher than that in the healthy vessel wall. The in vitro studies of human arterial sections showed marked binding of [18F]FDG to the calcifications but not to other structures of the artery wall.

Conclusion

In agreement with previous studies, we observed [18F]FDG uptake in atherosclerotic plaques. However, prominent non-specific binding to calcified structures was found. This finding warrants further studies to clarify the significance of this non-specific binding in human plaques in vivo.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Libby P, Theroux P. Pathophysiology of coronary artery disease. Circulation 2005;111:3481–3488

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Ogawa M, Ishino S, Mukai T, Asano D, Teramoto N, Watabe H, et al. 18F-FDG accumulation in atherosclerotic plaques: immunohistochemical and PET imaging study. J Nucl Med 2004;45:1245–1250

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Rudd JH, Warburton EA, Fryer TD, Jones HA, Clark JC, Antoun N, et al. Imaging atherosclerotic plaque inflammation with [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. Circulation 2002;105:2708–2711

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Veniant MM, Zlot CH, Walzem RL, Pierotti V, Driscoll R, Dichek D, et al. Lipoprotein clearance mechanisms in LDL receptor-deficient “Apo-B48-only” and “Apo-B100-only” mice. J Clin Invest 1998;102:1559–1568

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hamacher K, Coenen HH, Stocklin G. Efficient stereospecific synthesis of no-carrier-added 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose using aminopolyether supported nucleophilic substitution. J Nucl Med 1986;27:235–238

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Dunphy MP, Freiman A, Larson SM, Strauss HW. Association of vascular 18F-FDG uptake with vascular calcification. J Nucl Med 2005;46:1278–1284

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Ben Haim S, Kupzov E, Tamir A, Israel O. Evaluation of 18F-FDG uptake and arterial wall calcifications using 18F-FDG PET/CT. J Nucl Med 2004;45:1816–1821

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Doherty TM, Fitzpatrick LA, Inoue D, Qiao JH, Fishbein MC, Detrano RC, et al. Molecular, endocrine, and genetic mechanisms of arterial calcification. Endocr Rev 2004;25:629–672

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Powell-Braxton L, Veniant M, Latvala RD, Hirano KI, Won WB, Ross J, et al. A mouse model of human familial hypercholesterolemia: markedly elevated low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and severe atherosclerosis on a low-fat chow diet. Nat Med 1998;4:934–938

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Veniant MM, Sullivan MA, Kim SK, Ambroziak P, Chu A, Wilson MD, et al. Defining the atherogenicity of large and small lipoproteins containing apolipoprotein B100. J Clin Invest 2000;106:1501–1510

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Leppänen P, Koota S, Kholova I, Koponen J, Fieber C, Eriksson U, et al. Gene transfers of vascular endothelial growth factor-A, vascular endothelial growth factor-B, vascular endothelial growth factor-C, and vascular endothelial growth factor-D have no effects on atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic low-density lipoprotein-receptor/apolipoprotein B48-deficient mice. Circulation 2005;112:1347–1352

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Jawien J, Nastalek P, Korbut R. Mouse models of experimental atherosclerosis. J Physiol Pharmacol 2004;55:503–517

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Doherty TM, Uzui H, Fitzpatrick LA, Tripathi PV, Dunstan CR, Asotra K, et al. Rationale for the role of osteoclast-like cells in arterial calcification. FASEB J 2002;16:577–582

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Minkin C. Bone acid phosphatase: tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase as a marker of osteoclast function. Calcif Tissue Int 1982;34:285–290

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the Ida Montin Foundation, the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research, the Paulo Foundation and the Hospital District of Southwest Finland.

The authors would like to thank Sanna Suominen, Tarja Marttila, Hannele Ylipahkala and Mervi Oikonen for technical assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Iina Laitinen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Laitinen, I., Marjamäki, P., Haaparanta, M. et al. Non-specific binding of [18F]FDG to calcifications in atherosclerotic plaques: experimental study of mouse and human arteries. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 33, 1461–1467 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-006-0159-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-006-0159-6

Keywords

Navigation