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Erschienen in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2/2006

01.02.2006 | Original Article

99mTc-interleukin-2 scintigraphy for the in vivo imaging of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques

verfasst von: Alessio Annovazzi, Elena Bonanno, Marcello Arca, Calogero D’Alessandria, Antonella Marcoccia, Luigi G. Spagnoli, Francesco Violi, Francesco Scopinaro, Giorgio De Toma, Alberto Signore

Erschienen in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging | Ausgabe 2/2006

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Abstract

Purpose

Several histopathological studies have demonstrated that vulnerable plaques are enriched in inflammatory cells. The aims of this study were: (1a) to test the ability of 99mTc-labelled interleukin-2 (99mTc-IL2) to bind to IL2R-positive (IL2R+) cells in carotid plaques and (1b) to correlate the plaque uptake of 99mTc-IL2, measured in vivo, with the number of IL2R+ cells within the plaque, measured ex vivo by histology (transversal study, TS), and (2) to evaluate changes in 99mTc-IL2 uptake in plaques, before and after treatment with a statin or a hypocholesterolaemic diet (longitudinal study, LS).

Methods

Ultrasound scan was performed for plaque characterisation and localisation. Fourteen patients (16 plaques) eligible for endoarterectomy were recruited for the TS and underwent 99mTc-IL2 scintigraphy before surgery. Nine patients (13 plaques) were recruited for the LS; these patients received atorvastatin or a standard hypocholesterolaemic diet and 99mTc-IL2 scintigraphy was performed before and after 3 months of treatment.

Results

The degree of 99mTc-IL2 uptake was expressed as the plaque/background (T/B) ratio. In patients from TS, T/B ratios correlated with the percentage of IL2R+ cells at histology (r=0.707; p=0.002) and the number of IL2R+ cells at flow cytometry (r=0.711; p=0.006). No correlations were observed between ultrasound scores and either scintigraphic or histological findings. In patients from the LS, the mean 99mTc-IL2 uptake decreased in statin-treated patients (1.75±0.50 vs 2.16±0.44; p=0.012), while it was unchanged in the patients on the hypocholesterolaemic diet (2.33±0.45 vs 2.34±0.5).

Conclusion

99mTc-IL2 accumulates in vulnerable carotid plaques; this accumulation is correlated with the amount of IL2R+ cells and is influenced by lipid-lowering treatment with a statin.
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Metadaten
Titel
99mTc-interleukin-2 scintigraphy for the in vivo imaging of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques
verfasst von
Alessio Annovazzi
Elena Bonanno
Marcello Arca
Calogero D’Alessandria
Antonella Marcoccia
Luigi G. Spagnoli
Francesco Violi
Francesco Scopinaro
Giorgio De Toma
Alberto Signore
Publikationsdatum
01.02.2006
Erschienen in
European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging / Ausgabe 2/2006
Print ISSN: 1619-7070
Elektronische ISSN: 1619-7089
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-005-1899-4

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