Simultaneous Assessment of Cardiac Inflammation and Extracellular Matrix Remodeling After Myocardial Infarction

Citation
Ramos, Isabel T., et al. «Simultaneous Assessment of Cardiac Inflammation and Extracellular Matrix Remodeling After Myocardial Infarction». Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging, vol. 11, n.o 11, noviembre de 2018, p. e007453. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.117.007453.
Abstract
Background: Optimal healing of the myocardium after myocardial infarction (MI) requires a suitable degree of inflammation and its timely resolution, together with a well-orchestrated deposition and degradation of ECM (extracellular matrix) proteins. Methods and Results: MI and SHAM-operated animals were imaged at 3, 7, 14, and 21 days with 3T magnetic resonance imaging using a 19F/1H surface coil. Mice were injected with 19F-perfluorocarbon nanoparticles to study inflammatory cell recruitment, and with a gadolinium-based elastin-binding contrast agent to evaluate elastin content. 19F magnetic resonance imaging signal colocalized with infarction areas, as confirmed by late gadolinium enhancement, and was highest 7 days post-MI, correlating with macrophage content (MAC-3 immunohistochemistry; ρ=0.89, P<0.0001). 19F quantification with in vivo (magnetic resonance imaging) and ex vivo nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy correlated linearly (ρ=0.58, P=0.020). T1 mapping after gadolinium-based elastin-binding contrast agent injection showed increased relaxation rate (R1) in the infarcted regions and was significantly higher at 21 days compared with 7 days post-MI (R1 [s−1]: 21 days=2.8 [interquartile range, 2.69–3.30] versus 7 days=2.3 [interquartile range, 2.12–2.5], P<0.05), which agreed with an increased tropoelastin content (ρ=0.89, P<0.0001). The predictive value of each contrast agent for beneficial remodeling was evaluated in a longitudinal proof-of-principle study. Neither R1 nor 19F at day 7 were significant predictors for beneficial remodeling (P=0.68; P=0.062). However, the combination of both measurements (R1<2.34 Hz and 0.55≤19F≤1.85) resulted in an odds ratio of 30.0 (CI 95%, 1.41–638.15; P=0.029) for favorable post-MI remodeling. Conclusions: Multinuclear 1H/19F magnetic resonance imaging allows the simultaneous assessment of inflammation and elastin remodeling in a murine MI model. The interplay of these biological processes affects cardiac outcome and may have potential for improved diagnosis and personalized treatment.
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