Analysis of Vascular Function by DCE-MRI in a Human Endothelial Cell Derived Angiogenesis Model in Mice Under Anti- & Pro-Angiogenic Treatment

Claudia Weidensteiner¹, Wilfried Reichardt², Oliver Siedentopf³, Ralph Graeser³, Holger Weber³

Vascular function under treatment was studied with dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in a new in vivo angiogenesis model. Luciferase-transduced human endothelial cells embedded in a Matrigel matrix formed a functional neovasculature when implanted into mice. DCE-MRI showed differences in perfusion after treatment with different compounds and antibodies. This was compared to bioluminescence imaging and classical immunohistochemistry. Anti-angiogenic treatment decreased the fitted transfer constants and areas under the enhancement curves in the Matrigel plugs as compared to controls which indicated a decreased perfusion while angiogenesis-stimulating treatment showed the opposite effect.