Adelina Curaj1, Zhuojun Wu1, Stanley Fokong1, Elisa A Liehn1, Christian Weber1, Alexandrina Burlacu1, Twan Lammers1, Marc van Zandvoort2, Fabian Kiessling2. 1. From the Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging (A.C., Z.W., S.F., T.L., F.K.), Institute for Molecular Cardiovascular Research (A.C., Z.W., E.A.L., M.v.Z.), University Clinic, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany; Institute of Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany (C.W.); DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research, partner site Munich Heart Alliance), Munich, Germany (C.W.); Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology "Nicolae Simionescu" of the Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania (A.B.); Department of Controlled Drug Delivery, University of Twente, AE Enschede, The Netherlands (T.L.); and Department of Genetics and Molecular Cell Biology, School for Cardiovascular Diseases CARIM, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands (M.v.Z.). 2. From the Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging (A.C., Z.W., S.F., T.L., F.K.), Institute for Molecular Cardiovascular Research (A.C., Z.W., E.A.L., M.v.Z.), University Clinic, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany; Institute of Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany (C.W.); DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research, partner site Munich Heart Alliance), Munich, Germany (C.W.); Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology "Nicolae Simionescu" of the Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania (A.B.); Department of Controlled Drug Delivery, University of Twente, AE Enschede, The Netherlands (T.L.); and Department of Genetics and Molecular Cell Biology, School for Cardiovascular Diseases CARIM, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands (M.v.Z.). fkiessling@ukaachen.de mamj.vanzandvoort@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Cardiovascular interventions induce damage to the vessel wall making antithrombotic therapy inevitable until complete endothelial recovery. Without a method to accurately determine the endothelial status, many patients undergo prolonged anticoagulation therapy, denying them any invasive medical procedures, such as surgical operations and dental interventions. Therefore, we aim to introduce molecular ultrasound imaging of the vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 using targeted poly-n-butylcyanoacrylate microbubbles (MB(VCAM-1)) as an easy accessible method to monitor accurately the reendothelialization of vessels. APPROACH AND RESULTS: ApoE(-/-) mice were fed with an atherogenic diet for 1 and 12 weeks and subsequently, endothelial denudation was performed in the carotid arteries using a guidewire. Molecular ultrasound imaging was performed at different time points after denudation (1, 3, 7, and 14 days). An increased MB(VCAM-1) binding after 1 day, a peak after 3 days, and a decrease after 7 days was found. After 12 weeks of diet, MB(VCAM-1) binding also peaked after 3 days but remained high until 7 days, indicating a delay in endothelial recovery. Two-photon laser scanning microscopy imaging of double fluorescence staining confirmed the exposure of VCAM-1 on the superficial layer after arterial injury only during the healing phase. After complete reendothelialization, VCAM-1 expression persisted in the subendothelial layer but was not reachable for the MBV(CAM-1) anymore. CONCLUSION: Molecular ultrasound imaging with MB(VCAM-1) is promising to assess vascular damage and to monitor endothelial recovery after arterial interventions. Thus, it may become an important diagnostic tool supporting the development of adequate therapeutic strategies to personalize anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory therapy after cardiovascular intervention.
OBJECTIVE: Cardiovascular interventions induce damage to the vessel wall making antithrombotic therapy inevitable until complete endothelial recovery. Without a method to accurately determine the endothelial status, many patients undergo prolonged anticoagulation therapy, denying them any invasive medical procedures, such as surgical operations and dental interventions. Therefore, we aim to introduce molecular ultrasound imaging of the vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 using targeted poly-n-butylcyanoacrylate microbubbles (MB(VCAM-1)) as an easy accessible method to monitor accurately the reendothelialization of vessels. APPROACH AND RESULTS:ApoE(-/-) mice were fed with an atherogenic diet for 1 and 12 weeks and subsequently, endothelial denudation was performed in the carotid arteries using a guidewire. Molecular ultrasound imaging was performed at different time points after denudation (1, 3, 7, and 14 days). An increased MB(VCAM-1) binding after 1 day, a peak after 3 days, and a decrease after 7 days was found. After 12 weeks of diet, MB(VCAM-1) binding also peaked after 3 days but remained high until 7 days, indicating a delay in endothelial recovery. Two-photon laser scanning microscopy imaging of double fluorescence staining confirmed the exposure of VCAM-1 on the superficial layer after arterial injury only during the healing phase. After complete reendothelialization, VCAM-1 expression persisted in the subendothelial layer but was not reachable for the MBV(CAM-1) anymore. CONCLUSION: Molecular ultrasound imaging with MB(VCAM-1) is promising to assess vascular damage and to monitor endothelial recovery after arterial interventions. Thus, it may become an important diagnostic tool supporting the development of adequate therapeutic strategies to personalize anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory therapy after cardiovascular intervention.
Authors: Patrick Koczera; Lia Appold; Yang Shi; Mengjiao Liu; Anshuman Dasgupta; Vertika Pathak; Tarun Ojha; Stanley Fokong; Zhuojun Wu; Marc van Zandvoort; Olga Iranzo; Alexander J C Kuehne; Andrij Pich; Fabian Kiessling; Twan Lammers Journal: J Control Release Date: 2017-03-06 Impact factor: 9.776