Imaging of Aortic Atherosclerotic Lesions by 125I-LDL, 125I-Oxidized-LDL, 125I-HDL and 125I-BSA

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare the accumulation of ¹²⁵I-labeled low-density lipoproteins (LDL), oxidized LDL (oxLDL), HDL and BSA in advanced atherosclerotic lesions of apoE-deficient mice. Methods:¹²⁵I-lipoproteins or ¹²⁵I-BSA were injected into the tail vein of apoE-deficient mice. Blood clearance of ¹²⁵I-lipoproteins and ¹²⁵I-BSA and their accumulation in atherosclerotic lesions were assayed. Results: Blood clearance of ¹²⁵I-LDL and ¹²⁵I-HDL was moderate, and approximately 30% of the injected lipoproteins were present in plasma 24 h following injection. oxLDL was removed much faster from plasma, and less than 10% of ¹²⁵I-oxLDL was present in the circulation 30 min after ¹²⁵I-oxLDL injection. The clearance of ¹²⁵I-BSA from the circulation was slower than the lipoprotein clearance. The highest accumulation of LDL, oxLDL, HDL and BSA was detected in atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic arch and abdominal aorta, while lower accumulation was detected in the less atherosclerotic descending thoracic aorta. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that both ¹²⁵I-HDL and ¹²⁵I-BSA as well as ¹²⁵I-LDL are accumulated in atherosclerotic plaques and that they can be used for the detection of atherosclerotic lesions.