PET/MR Imaging of Malondialdehyde-Acetaldehyde Epitopes With a Human Antibody Detects Clinically Relevant Atherothrombosis

Max L. Senders, Xuchu Que, Young Seok Cho, Calvin Yeang, Hannah Groenen, Francois Fay, Claudia Calcagno, Anu E. Meerwaldt, Simone Green, Phuong Miu, Mark E. Lobatto, Thomas Reiner, Zahi A. Fayad, Joseph L. Witztum, Willem J.M. Mulder, Carlos Pérez-Medina, Sotirios Tsimikas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

41 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Oxidation-specific epitopes (OSEs) are proinflammatory, and elevated levels in plasma predict cardiovascular events. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop novel positron emission tomography (PET) probes to noninvasively image OSE-rich lesions. Methods: An antigen-binding fragment (Fab) antibody library was constructed from human fetal cord blood. After multiple rounds of screening against malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde (MAA) epitopes, the Fab LA25 containing minimal nontemplated insertions in the CDR3 region was identified and characterized. In mice, pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and plaque specificity studies were performed with Zirconium-89 (89Zr)-labeled LA25. In rabbits, 89Zr-LA25 was used in combination with an integrated clinical PET/magnetic resonance (MR) system. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET and dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging were used to evaluate vessel wall inflammation and plaque neovascularization, respectively. Extensive ex vivo validation was carried out through a combination of gamma counting, near infrared fluorescence, autoradiography, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. Results: LA25 bound specifically to MAA epitopes in advanced and ruptured human atherosclerotic plaques with accompanying thrombi and in debris from distal protection devices. PET/MR imaging 24 h after injection of 89Zr-LA25 showed increased uptake in the abdominal aorta of atherosclerotic rabbits compared with nonatherosclerotic control rabbits, confirmed by ex vivo gamma counting and autoradiography. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET, dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging, and near-infrared fluorescence signals were also significantly higher in atherosclerotic rabbit aortas compared with control aortas. Enhanced liver uptake was also noted in atherosclerotic animals, confirmed by the presence of MAA epitopes by immunostaining. Conclusions: 89Zr-LA25 is a novel PET radiotracer that may allow noninvasive phenotyping of high-risk OSE-rich lesions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)321-335
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology
Volume71
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 23 Jan 2018

Keywords

  • PET/MR imaging
  • atherosclerosis
  • natural antibodies
  • oxidation-specific epitopes

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