Activated Platelets in Carotid Artery Thrombosis in Mice Can Be Selectively Targeted with a Radiolabeled Single-Chain Antibody

BACKGROUND: Activated platelets can be found on the surface of inflamed, rupture-prone and ruptured plaques as well as in intravascular thrombosis. They are key players in thrombosis and atherosclerosis. In this study we describe the construction of a radiolabeled single-chain antibody targeting the LIBS-epitope of activated platelets to selectively depict platelet activation and wall-adherent non-occlusive thrombosis in a mouse model with nuclear imaging using in vitro and ex vivo autoradiography as well as small animal SPECT-CT for in vivo analysis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: LIBS as well as an unspecific control single-chain antibody were labeled with (111)Indium ((111)In) via bifunctional DTPA ( = (111)In-LIBS/(111)In-control). Autoradiography after incubation with (111)In-LIBS on activated platelets in vitro (mean 3866 ± 28 DLU/mm(2), 4010 ± 630 DLU/mm(2) and 4520 ± 293 DLU/mm(2)) produced a significantly higher ligand uptake compared to (111)In-control (2101 ± 76 DLU/mm(2), 1181 ± 96 DLU/mm(2) and 1866 ± 246 DLU/mm(2)) indicating a specific binding to activated platelets; P<0.05. Applying these findings to an ex vivo mouse model of carotid artery thrombosis revealed a significant increase in ligand uptake after injection of (111)In-LIBS in the presence of small thrombi compared to the non-injured side, as confirmed by histology (49630 ± 10650 DLU/mm(2) vs. 17390 ± 7470 DLU/mm(2); P<0.05). These findings could also be reproduced in vivo. SPECT-CT analysis of the injured carotid artery with (111)In-LIBS resulted in a significant increase of the target-to-background ratio compared to (111)In-control (1.99 ± 0.36 vs. 1.1 ± 0.24; P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Nuclear imaging with (111)In-LIBS allows the detection of platelet activation in vitro and ex vivo with high sensitivity. Using SPECT-CT, wall-adherent activated platelets in carotid arteries could be depicted in vivo. These results encourage further studies elucidating the role of activated platelets in plaque pathology and atherosclerosis and might be of interest for further developments towards clinical application

Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Associated Factor 6 Is Not Required for Atherogenesis in Mice and Does Not Associate with Atherosclerosis in Humans

BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factors (TRAFs) are important signaling molecules for a variety of pro-atherogenic cytokines including CD40L, TNF alpha, and IL1beta. Several lines of evidence identified TRAF6 as a pro-inflammatory signaling molecule in vitro and we previously demonstrated overexpression of TRAF6 in human and Murine atherosclerotic plaques. This study investigated the role of TRAF6-deficiency in mice developing atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Lethally irradiated low density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice (TRAF6(+/+)/LDLR(-/-)) were reconstituted with TRAF6-deficient fetal liver cells (FLC) and consumed high cholesterol diet for 18 weeks to assess the relevance of TRAF6 in hematopoietic cells for atherogenesis. Additionally, TRAF6(+/-)/LDLR(-/-) mice received TRAF6-deficient FLC to gain insight into the role of TRAF6 deficiency in resident cells. Surprisingly, atherosclerotic lesion size did not differ between the three groups in both aortic roots and abdominal aortas. Similarly, no significant differences in plaque composition could be observed as assessed by immunohistochemistry for macrophages, lipids, smooth muscle cells, T-cells, and collagen. In accord, in a small clinical study TRAF6/GAPDH total blood RNA ratios did not differ between groups of patients with stable coronary heart disease (0.034+/-0.0021, N = 178), acute coronary heart disease (0.029+/-0.0027, N = 70), and those without coronary heart disease (0.032+/-0.0016, N = 77) as assessed by angiography. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that TRAF6 is not required for atherogenesis in mice and does not associate with clinical disease in humans. These data suggest that pro- and anti-inflammatory features of TRAF6 signaling outweigh each other in the context of atherosclerosis

Cannabinoid Receptor 2 Signaling Does Not Modulate Atherogenesis in Mice

BACKGROUND:Strong evidence supports a protective role of the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB(2)) in inflammation and atherosclerosis. However, direct proof of its involvement in lesion formation is lacking. Therefore, the present study aimed to characterize the role of the CB(2) receptor in Murine atherogenesis. METHODS AND FINDINGS:Low density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (LDLR(-/-)) mice subjected to intraperitoneal injections of the selective CB(2) receptor agonist JWH-133 or vehicle three times per week consumed high cholesterol diet (HCD) for 16 weeks. Surprisingly, intimal lesion size did not differ between both groups in sections of the aortic roots and arches, suggesting that CB(2) activation does not modulate atherogenesis in vivo. Plaque content of lipids, macrophages, smooth muscle cells, T cells, and collagen were also similar between both groups. Moreover, CB(2) (-/-)/LDLR(-/-) mice developed lesions of similar size containing more macrophages and lipids but similar amounts of smooth muscle cells and collagen fibers compared with CB(2) (+/+)/LDLR(-/-) controls. While JWH-133 treatment reduced intraperitoneal macrophage accumulation in thioglycollate-elicited peritonitis, neither genetic deficiency nor pharmacologic activation of the CB(2) receptor altered inflammatory cytokine expression in vivo or inflammatory cell adhesion in the flow chamber in vitro. CONCLUSION:Our study demonstrates that both activation and deletion of the CB(2) receptor do not relevantly modulate atherogenesis in mice. Our data do not challenge the multiple reports involving CB(2) in other inflammatory processes. However, in the context of atherosclerosis, CB(2) does not appear to be a suitable therapeutic target for reduction of the atherosclerotic plaque

Effect of Testosterone on post-myocardial infarction remodeling and function

In den letzten Jahren wurden verstärkt die Auswirkungen von Androgenen auf das kardiovaskuläre System des Menschen untersucht, wobei das mögliche Wirkspektrum sowohl positive als auch negative Aspekte umfasst. Anzumerken ist jedoch, dass gerade negative Beobachtungen, wie der plötzliche Herztod von Bodybuildern nach Androgenmissbrauch, jeweils Einzelfalldarstellungen sind und klinische Studien hierzu fehlen. Epidemiologische Daten zeigen wiederum eine höhere Lebenserwartung von Männern nach Herzinfarkt im Vergleich zu Frauen. Es existieren jedoch keinerlei Angaben darüber, welchen Einfluss Androgene auf das kardiovaskuläre Remodeling nach einem Herzinfarkt haben. Dazu wurden von uns männliche Wistar-Ratten entweder orchiektomiert (ORCH), nicht orchiektomiert (PLAC) oder aber mit supraphysiologischen Dosierungen von Testosteronundecanoat (TUD) intramuskulär behandelt. Vierzehn Tage später erfolgte entweder eine Infarzierung (MI) oder Scheininfarzierung (SHAM) dieser Tiere, acht Wochen danach die kernspintomographische, echokardiographische und hämodynamische Evaluierung der linksventrikulären Funktion. Ferner wurden molekularbiologische Marker wie ANP, MHC und IGF-1 untersucht, um so das kardiale Remodeling näher zu charakterisieren. Bei den scheininfarzierten Tieren führte die Testosteronapplikation zu einer kardialen Hypertrophie (SHAM/TUD vs. SHAM/PLAC und SHAM/ORCH, p<0,02) ohne Erhöhung von ANP-mRNA. Der Quotient aus a/b-MHC war nach Testosteronbehandlung durch verstärkte Expression von a-MHC signifikant höher (SHAM/ORCH vs. SHAM/TUD, p<0,05). Als potentieller Mechanismus dieser Hypertrophieform war die Expression von IGF-1-mRNA fünffach erhöht (SHAM/PLAC und SHAM/ORCH vs. SHAM/TUD, p<0,05). Nach Infarzierung war die Infarktgrösse mit durchschnittlich 38 % und auch die infarktassoziierte Mortalität mit ca. 60% zwischen den Gruppen vergleichbar. Bei der auf das Körpergewicht bezogenen linksventrikulären Masse führte Testosteron zu einer signifikant verstärkten Hypertrophie (MI/TUD vs. MI/PLAC und MI/ORCH p<0,01), der linksventrikuläre enddiastolische Druck war unter Testosteronbehandlung niedriger (MI/TUD vs. MI/PLAC, 14±3 vs. 26±2 mmHg, p<0.02). Durch die Infarzierung erhöhte sich in allen Gruppen die Expression von ANP im Vergleich zu scheininfarzierten Tieren (SHAM vs. PLAC p<0,05), der Quotient aus a/b-MHC unterschied sich trotz testosteroninduzierter Hypertrophie innerhalb der infarzierten Gruppen nicht. Keine Unterschiede zeigten sich auch im myokardialen Kollagengehalt (MI/PLAC vs. MI/TUD vs. MI/ORCH 16.8±8% vs. 16.6±5% vs. 19.0±11%, p=ns). Chronische Testosteronbehandlung führte zu einer spezifischen kardialen Hypertrophie mit signifikanter Erhöhung des linksventrikulären Gewichtes, die nicht durch einen Anstieg von ANP als einem Marker der remodelinginduzierten Hypertrophie charakterisiert war. Ferner führte Testosteron zu einer verstärkten Expression der „schnellen“ a-MHC-Isoform, so dass der beim kardialen Remodeling sonst sinkende Quotient aus a/b-MHC unter Testosteronbehandlung nicht beobachtet wurde. Möglicherweise sind diese Effekte auf eine erhöhte Expression von IGF-1-mRNA zurückzuführen. Bei gleichzeitig erniedrigtem LVEDP als einem wichtigen Prognosefaktor der Herzinsuffizienz kann eine physiologische Form der Hypertrophie hypothetisiert werden. Testosteron scheint also am Herz ein spezifisches „physiologisches“ Hypertrophieprogramm zu induzieren, das die kardiale Funktion nach Myokardinfarkt möglicherweise langfristig positiv beeinflusst.Effect of Testosterone on post-myocardial infarction remodeling and function Background: Men and women are differently affected by coronary artery disease, suggesting an important role of sex steroids. Moreover, testosterone (T) treatment is increasingly used in elderly males. Therefore, we examined effects of chronic anabolic T administration on left ventricular (LV) remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). Methods: Adult male rats were treated with intramuscularly placebo, testosterone undecanoate (T), or were orchiectomized. After two weeks, animals underwent sham-operation (sham) or left coronary artery ligation. Left ventricular remodeling and function was assessed by serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at weeks 2 and 8 and hemodynamic investigation at week 8. Results: In sham operated animals T administration increased serum T levels and led to cardiac hypertrophy, but not to an upregulation of ANP mRNA. The a/b-MHC-ratio was significantly higher after T treatment due to an increase in a-MHC. As a potential mechanism for this “physiologic” form of hypertrophy, IGF-1 mRNA expression was significantly increased in T treated animals. After coronary artery ligation, infarct size and mortality were similar among the groups. Left ventricular hypertrophy was enhanced by T treatment. However, in vivo LV end-diastolic pressure and wall stress were decreased by T, whereas other hemodynamic parameters (mean arterial pressure, cardiac output, etc) remained unchanged. Conclusion: Chronic anabolic T treatment led to a specific “physiologic” pattern of myocardial hypertrophy with a significant increase in LV weight, but without differences in ANP and with an upregulation in a/b-MHC, possibly mediated by IGF-1. Testosterone treatment had no detrimental effects following MI. Reduced wall stress and LVEDP may even improve long-term outcome