Effect of pioglitazone on inflammation and calcification in atherosclerotic rabbits : An 18F-FDG-PET/CT in vivo imaging study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

We developed an atherosclerotic rabbit model and tested pioglitazone as a drug intervention for early vascular calcification. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) was used to evaluate inflammation and therapeutic effects.

METHODS:

We randomly divided 20 male New Zealand white rabbits into a pioglitazone-treated group (n = 10) and a control group (n = 10). Atherosclerosis was induced via a high-cholesterol diet and endothelial denudation. The animals were maintained on a hyperlipidemic diet for 16 weeks after surgery, and the treatment group received pioglitazone daily. Serum samples were obtained at 8 and 18 weeks postoperatively to assess high-sensitivity C‑reactive protein (hs-CRP) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) concentrations. Sixteen rabbits underwent a mid-stage PET/CT scan at week 8, and 11 rabbits underwent an end-stage PET/CT scan at week 18. PET/CT parameters, including the mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean) and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), were measured and documented.

RESULTS:

There were significantly lower hs-CRP and MMP-9 levels in the pioglitazone group at week 18 (p < 0.01). At the end of the 8th week, no significant between-group differences in SUVmean and SUVmax were observed. From week 8 to week 18, the SUVmean and SUVmax decreased in the pioglitazone group but the SUVmean increased in the control group, with significant between-group differences at the end of the 18th week (p < 0.01). Histopathological examination of aortas in the control and pioglitazone groups revealed significantly smaller plaque area, macrophage density, and tissue calcification area in the latter group.

CONCLUSION:

Pioglitazone affects early vascular microcalcification, and pioglitazone-induced changes can be assessed using 18F-FDG-PET/CT.

• Authors: J Xu, M Nie, J Li, Z Xu, M Zhang, Y Yan, T Feng, X Zhao, Q Zhao
• Journal: Herz (Herz) Vol. 43 Issue 8 Pg. 733-740 (Dec 2018) ISSN: 1615-6692 [Electronic] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Wirkung von Pioglitazon auf Entzündung und Verkalkung bei Kaninchen mit Arteriosklerose : Eine18F-FDG-PET-CT-in-vivo-Bildgebungsstudie.
• PMID: 28956073 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Hypoglycemic Agents
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
• Pioglitazone

Topics

• Animals
• Atherosclerosis (drug therapy)
• Calcinosis (drug therapy)
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
• Hypoglycemic Agents (pharmacology)
• Inflammation (drug therapy)
• Male
• Pioglitazone (pharmacology)
• Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
• Positron-Emission Tomography
• Rabbits
• Random Allocation
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed