Irbesartan Attenuates Atherosclerosis in Watanabe Heritable Hyperlipidemic Rabbits: Noninvasive Imaging of Inflammation by 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography. Issue 5 (1st May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Yan; Fukao, Keita; Zhao, Songji; Watanabe, Ayahisa; Hamada, Tadateru; Yamasaki, Kazuaki; Shimizu, Yoichi; Kubo, Naoki; Ukon, Naoyuki; Nakano, Toru; Tamaki, Nagara; Kuge, Yuji
• Is Part Of: Molecular imaging. Volume 14, Issue 5(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-05-01
• Subjects: Molecular diagnosis -- Periodicals; Diagnostic imaging -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Molecular diagnosis; Diagnostic imaging; Molecular biology; Periodicals; 616.075
• DOI: 10.2310/7290.2015.00004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1535-3508

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ( 18 F-FDG PET) in evaluating the antiatherogenic effects of irbesartan, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker. Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits were divided into the irbesartan-treated group (75 mg/kg/d; n = 14) and the control group ( n = 14). After a 9-month treatment, rabbits underwent 18 F-FDG PET. Using the aortic lesions, autoradiography and histologic examinations were performed. PET imaging clearly visualized the thoracic lesions of control rabbits and showed a significant decrease in the 18 F-FDG uptake level of irbesartan-treated rabbits (78.8% of controls; p < .05). Irbesartan treatment significantly reduced the plaque size (43.1% of controls) and intraplaque macrophage infiltration level (48.1% of controls). The 18 F-FDG uptake level in plaques positively correlated with the plaque size ( r = .65, p < .05) and macrophage infiltration level ( r = .57, p < .05). Noninvasive imaging by 18 F-FDG PET is useful for evaluating the therapeutic effects of irbesartan and reflects inflammation, a key factor involved in the therapeutic effects.