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  • Perfluorohexane-loaded macrophages as a novel ultrasound contrast agent: a feasibility study.

Perfluorohexane-loaded macrophages as a novel ultrasound contrast agent: a feasibility study.

Molecular imaging and biology : MIB : the official publication of the Academy of Molecular Imaging (2008-06-10)
Liselotte M Kornmann, Daniëlle M J Curfs, Evelien Hermeling, Ingeborg van der Made, Menno P J de Winther, Robert S Reneman, Koen D Reesink, Arnold P G Hoeks
PMID18536974
ABSTRACT

We investigated in vitro the potential of macrophages to act as targeted vehicle for ultrasound molecular imaging. Murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM), incubated for 3 h with different concentrations of perfluorohexane (PFH) emulsions, were monitored by microscopy, flow cytometry, and ultrasound. Effects of PFH loading on BMM adhesion molecule (PSGL-1, VLA-4, Mac-1, LFA-1) expression were analyzed by flow cytometry. Static adhesion of PFH loaded BMM to unstimulated and TNF-alpha stimulated b.End5 endothelial cells was assessed by microscopy. Incubation of BMM with PFH emulsions resulted in dose-dependent uptake and increased echogenicity (max. 17 dB). Flow cytometry analyses revealed no down-regulation related to PFH loading of BMM adhesion molecule expression. Endothelial adhesion remained functional, even after 24 h, although PFH loading dose-dependently attenuated static adhesion. PFH loaded BMM may potentially serve as ultrasound contrast agent for noninvasive detection of atherogenic hotspots in arteries.