Objective

Atherosclerotic plaques with large lipid cores and inflammation contain regions of hypoxia. We examined the uptake of 2-(2-nitro-1H-imidazol-1-yl)-N-(2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl) acetamide ([¹⁸F]EF5), a specific marker of hypoxia labeled for positron emission tomography, in mouse atherosclerotic plaques.

Methods and Results

Atherosclerotic mice of 2 different genetic backgrounds (low-density lipoprotein receptor−/− apolipoprotein B100/100 and insulin-like growth factor II/low-density lipoprotein receptor^−/− apolipoprotein B^100/100) were first fed a Western diet to induce development of plaques with variable phenotypes and then injected with [¹⁸F]EF5. C57BL/6N mice served as controls. Aortas were dissected for biodistribution studies, autoradiography, histology, and immunohistochemistry. Uptake of [¹⁸F]EF5 was significantly higher in the aortas of mice with large atherosclerotic plaques than in the C57BL/6N controls. Furthermore, autoradiography demonstrated, on average, 2.0-fold higher [¹⁸F]EF5 uptake in atherosclerotic plaques than in the adjacent normal vessel wall. Hypoxia in plaques was verified by using an EF5 adduct-specific antibody and pimonidazole. The blood clearance of [¹⁸F]EF5 was slow, with blood radioactivity remaining relatively high up to 180 minutes after injection.

Conclusion

Large atherosclerotic plaques in mice contained hypoxic areas and showed uptake of [¹⁸F]EF5. Despite its slow blood clearance, the high uptake of [¹⁸F]EF5 in plaques suggested that plaque hypoxia is a potential target for identifying high-risk plaques noninvasively.