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Allphin AJ, Mahzarnia A, Clark DP, Qi Y, Han ZY, Bhandari P, Ghaghada KB, Badea A, Badea CT. Advanced photon counting CT imaging pipeline for cardiac phenotyping of apolipoprotein E mouse models. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291733. [PMID: 37796905 PMCID: PMC10553338 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is associated with the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene and lipid metabolism. This study aimed to develop an imaging-based pipeline to comprehensively assess cardiac structure and function in mouse models expressing different APOE genotypes using photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT). METHODS 123 mice grouped based on APOE genotype (APOE2, APOE3, APOE4, APOE knockout (KO)), gender, human NOS2 factor, and diet (control or high fat) were used in this study. The pipeline included PCCT imaging on a custom-built system with contrast-enhanced in vivo imaging and intrinsic cardiac gating, spectral and temporal iterative reconstruction, spectral decomposition, and deep learning cardiac segmentation. Statistical analysis evaluated genotype, diet, sex, and body weight effects on cardiac measurements. RESULTS Our results showed that PCCT offered high quality imaging with reduced noise. Material decomposition enabled separation of calcified plaques from iodine enhanced blood in APOE KO mice. Deep learning-based segmentation showed good performance with Dice scores of 0.91 for CT-based segmentation and 0.89 for iodine map-based segmentation. Genotype-specific differences were observed in left ventricular volumes, heart rate, stroke volume, ejection fraction, and cardiac index. Statistically significant differences were found between control and high fat diets for APOE2 and APOE4 genotypes in heart rate and stroke volume. Sex and weight were also significant predictors of cardiac measurements. The inclusion of the human NOS2 gene modulated these effects. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates the potential of PCCT in assessing cardiac structure and function in mouse models of CVD which can help in understanding the interplay between genetic factors, diet, and cardiovascular health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex J. Allphin
- Quantitative Imaging and Analysis Lab, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Ali Mahzarnia
- Quantitative Imaging and Analysis Lab, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Darin P. Clark
- Quantitative Imaging and Analysis Lab, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Yi Qi
- Quantitative Imaging and Analysis Lab, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Zay Y. Han
- Quantitative Imaging and Analysis Lab, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Prajwal Bhandari
- Department of Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Radiology, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Ketan B. Ghaghada
- Department of Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Radiology, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Alexandra Badea
- Quantitative Imaging and Analysis Lab, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Cristian T. Badea
- Quantitative Imaging and Analysis Lab, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
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Yin L, Kent EW, Wang B. Progress in murine models of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:950018. [PMID: 36035911 PMCID: PMC9411998 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.950018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a focal dilation of the aorta that is prevalent in aged populations. The progressive and unpredictable expansion of AAA could result in aneurysmal rupture, which is associated with ~80% mortality. Due to the expanded screening efforts and progress in diagnostic tools, an ever-increasing amount of asymptomatic AAA patients are being identified yet without a cure to stop the rampant aortic expansion. A key barrier that hinders the development of effective AAA treatment is our incomplete understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of its pathogenesis and progression into rupture. Animal models provide invaluable mechanistic insights into AAA pathophysiology. However, there is no single experimental model that completely recapitulate the complex biology behind AAA, and different AAA-inducing methodologies are associated with distinct disease course and rupture rate. In this review article, we summarize the established murine models of ruptured AAA and discuss their respective strengths and utilities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Bowen Wang
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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Kosuge H, Nakamura M, Oyane A, Tajiri K, Murakoshi N, Sakai S, Sato A, Taninaka A, Chikamori T, Shigekawa H, Aonuma K. Potential of Gold Nanoparticles for Noninvasive Imaging and Therapy for Vascular Inflammation. Mol Imaging Biol 2021; 24:692-699. [PMID: 34580810 PMCID: PMC9581827 DOI: 10.1007/s11307-021-01654-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Macrophages contribute to the progression of vascular inflammation, making them useful targets for imaging and treatment of vascular diseases. Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are useful as computed tomography (CT) contrast agents and light absorbers in photothermal therapy. In this study, we aimed to assess the viability of macrophages incubated with GNPs after near-infrared (NIR) laser light exposure and to evaluate the utility of intravenously injected GNPs for in vivo imaging of vascular inflammation in mice using micro-CT. Procedures Mouse macrophage cells (RAW 264.7) were incubated with GNPs and assessed for GNP cellular uptake and cell viability before and after exposure to NIR laser light. For in vivo imaging, macrophage-rich atherosclerotic lesions were induced by carotid ligation in hyperlipidemic and diabetic FVB mice (n = 9). Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) were created by angiotensin II infusion in ApoE-deficient mice (n = 9). These mice were scanned with a micro-CT imaging system before and after the intravenous injection of GNPs. Results The CT attenuation values of macrophages incubated with GNPs were significantly higher than those of cells incubated without GNPs (p < 0.04). Macrophages incubated with and without GNPs showed similar viability. The viability of macrophages incubated with GNPs (100 μg/ml or 200 μg/ml) was decreased by high-intensity NIR laser exposure but not by low-intensity NIR laser exposure. In vivo CT images showed higher CT attenuation values in diseased carotid arteries than in non-diseased contralateral arteries, although the difference was not statistically significant. The CT attenuation values of the perivascular area in AAAs of mice injected with GNPs were significantly higher than those of mice without injection (p = 0.0001). Conclusions Macrophages with GNPs had reduced viability upon NIR laser exposure. GNPs intravenously injected into mice accumulated in sites of vascular inflammation, allowing detection of carotid atherosclerosis and AAAs in CT imaging. Thus, GNPs have potential as multifunctional biologically compatible particles for the detection and therapy of vascular inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisanori Kosuge
- Department of Cardiology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, 160-0023, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Maki Nakamura
- Nanomaterials Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8565, Japan
| | - Ayako Oyane
- Nanomaterials Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8565, Japan
| | - Kazuko Tajiri
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Murakoshi
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
| | - Satoshi Sakai
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
| | - Akira Sato
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
| | - Atsushi Taninaka
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Ibaraki, 305-8573, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Taishiro Chikamori
- Department of Cardiology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, 160-0023, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hidemi Shigekawa
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Ibaraki, 305-8573, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Aonuma
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
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