Expression of ?(v)?(3) integrin has been proposed as a marker for atherosclerotic lesion inflammation. We studied whether diet intervention reduces uptake of ?(v)?(3) integrin-targeted positron emission tomography tracer (18)F-galacto-RGD in mouse atherosclerotic plaques.Hypercholesterolemic LDLR(-/-) ApoB(100/100) mice on high-fat diet for 4 months were randomized to further 3 months on high-fat diet (high-fat group, n = 8) or regular mouse chow (intervention group, n = 7). Intima-media ratio describing plaque burden was comparable between intervention and high-fat groups (2.0 ± 0.5 vs 2.3 ± 0.8, P = .5). Uptake of (18)F-galacto-RGD in the aorta was lower in the intervention than high-fat group (%ID/g 0.16 vs 0.23, P < .01). Autoradiography showed 35% lower uptake of (18)F-galacto-RGD in the atherosclerotic plaques in the intervention than high-fat group (P = .007). Uptake of (18)F-galacto-RGD in plaques correlated with uptake of (3)H-deoxyglucose and nuclear density, which was lower in the intervention than high-fat group (P = .01). Flow cytometry demonstrated macrophages expressing ?(v) and ?(3) integrins in the aorta.Uptake of (18)F-galacto-RGD in mouse atherosclerotic lesions was reduced by lipid-lowering diet intervention. Expression of ?(v)?(3) integrin is a potential target for evaluation of therapy response in atherosclerosis.
Institut für Allgemeine Pathologie und Pathologische Anatomie; Institut für Klinische Chemie und Pathobiochemie; Klinik und Poliklinik für Nuklearmedizin