Gert Klug1, Thomas Basse-Lsebrink2, Christian Schnell1, Thomas Kampf2, Elisabeth Bauer1, Volker Herold2, Marco Parczyk2, Eberhard Rommel2, Guido Stoll3, Peter Michael Jakob2, Wolfgang Rudolf Bauer1
1Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, Universittsklinikum Wrzburg, Wrzburg, Germany; 2Experimentelle Physik 5, Universitt Wrzburg, Wrzburg, Germany; 3Abteilung fr Neurologie, Universittsklinikum Wrzburg, Wrzburg, Germany
This study evaluates the capability of 19F-containing liposomes (VS1000H) for imaging and quantifying inflammatory processes. As a model for non-ischemic, sterile inflammation mice were investigated after subcutaneous TNF-alpha injection. Furthermore the uptake into activated atherosclerotic plaque macrophages of apoE-/- mice is investigated. We observed a significant uptake of VS1000H into models of inflammation. By excluding excessive tissue damage and bleeding as confounding factor this data suggests molecular MRI using liposomes containing 19F is a valuable tool for the detection of inflammatory processes. The results in apoE-/- mice indicate an uptake of VS1000H by atherosclerotic plaque macrophages.