articleCirculationNov 27, 2007GREEN OA

Osteogenesis Associates With Inflammation in Early-Stage Atherosclerosis Evaluated by Molecular Imaging In Vivo

Brigham and Women's Hospital · Harvard University · +1 more institution

PubMed
Indexed incrossrefpubmed

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Arterial calcification is associated with cardiovascular events; however, mechanisms of calcification in atherosclerosis remain obscure. METHODS AND RESULTS: We tested the hypothesis that inflammation promotes osteogenesis in atherosclerotic plaques using in vivo molecular imaging in apolipoprotein E-/- mice (20 to 30 weeks old, n=35). A bisphosphonate-derivatized near-infrared fluorescent imaging agent (excitation 750 nm) visualized osteogenic activity that was otherwise undetectable by x-ray computed tomography. Flow cytometry validated the target specifically in osteoblast-like cells. A spectrally distinct near-infrared fluorescent nanoparticle (excitation 680 nm) was coinjected to…

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