Effects of Age, Diet, and Type 2 Diabetes on the Development and FDG Uptake of Atherosclerotic Plaques

ObjectivesThis study investigated the effects of age, duration of a high-fat diet, and type 2 diabetes on atherosclerotic plaque development and uptake of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) in 2 mouse models.BackgroundThe animal's age and start time and duration of a high-fat diet have effects on plaque composition in atherosclerotic mice.MethodsThe aortas of atherosclerotic low-density lipoprotein receptor deficient mice expressing only apolipoprotein B100 (LDLR−/−ApoB100/100) and atherosclerotic and diabetic mice overexpressing insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II/LDLR−/−ApoB100/100) were investigated at 4, 6, and 12 months of age and older after varying durations of high-fat diet. C57BL/6N mice on normal chow served as controls. Plaque size (intima-to-media ratio), macrophage density (Mac-3 staining), and plaque uptake of 18F-FDG were studied by means of in vivo positron emission tomography/computed tomography by ex vivo autoradiography and by histological and immunohistochemical methods.ResultsFrom the ages of 4 to 6 months and 12 months and older, the plaque size increased and the macrophage density decreased. Compared with the controls, the in vivo imaging showed increased aortic 18F-FDG uptake at 4 and 6 months, but not at 12 months and older. Autoradiography showed focal 18F-FDG uptake in plaques at all time points (average plaque-to-normal vessel wall ratio: 2.4 ± 0.4, p < 0.001) with the highest uptake in plaques with high macrophage density. There were no differences in the plaque size, macrophage density, or uptake of 18F-FDG between LDLR−/−ApoB100/100 and IGF-II/LDLR−/−ApoB100/100 mice at any time point.ConclusionsThe 6-month-old LDLR−/−ApoB100/100 and IGF-II/LDLR−/−ApoB100/100 mice demonstrated highly inflamed, large, and extensive atherosclerotic plaques after 4 months of a high-fat diet, presenting a suitable model for studying the imaging of atherosclerotic plaque inflammation with 18F-FDG. The presence of type 2 diabetes did not confound evaluation of plaque inflammation with 18F-FDG.