High-resolution imaging of intravascular atherogenic inflammation in live mice

Circ Res. 2014 Feb 28;114(5):770-9. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.114.302590. Epub 2013 Dec 23.

Abstract

Rationale: The inflammatory processes that initiate and propagate atherosclerosis remain poorly understood, largely because defining the intravascular behavior of immune cells has been technically challenging. Respiratory and pulsatile movements have hampered in vivo visualization of leukocyte accumulation in athero-prone arteries at resolutions achieved in other tissues.

Objective: To establish and to validate a method that allows high-resolution imaging of inflammatory leukocytes and platelets within the carotid artery of atherosusceptible mice in vivo.

Methods and results: We have devised a procedure to stabilize the mouse carotid artery mechanically without altering blood dynamics, which dramatically enhances temporal and spatial resolutions using high-speed intravital microscopy in multiple channels of fluorescence. By applying this methodology at different stages of disease progression in atherosusceptible mice, we first validated our approach by assessing the recruitment kinetics of various leukocyte subsets and platelets in athero-prone segments of the carotid artery. The high temporal and spatial resolution allowed the dissection of both the dynamic polarization of and the formation of subcellular domains within adhered leukocytes. We further demonstrate that the secondary capture of activated platelets on the plaque is predominantly mediated by neutrophils. Finally, we couple this procedure with triggered 2-photon microscopy to visualize the 3-dimensional movement of leukocytes in intimate contact with the arterial lumen.

Conclusions: The improved imaging of diseased arteries at subcellular resolution presented here should help resolve many outstanding questions in atherosclerosis and other arterial disorders.

Keywords: atherosclerosis; blood platelets; carotid arteries; neutrophils.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apolipoproteins E / genetics
  • Atherosclerosis / genetics
  • Atherosclerosis / immunology
  • Atherosclerosis / physiopathology
  • Blood Platelets / immunology
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / genetics
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / immunology*
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Carotid Artery, Common / immunology
  • Carotid Artery, Common / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Leukocyte Rolling / immunology
  • Leukocytes / immunology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods*
  • Myeloid Cells / immunology
  • Neutrophils / immunology
  • Regional Blood Flow / physiology
  • Vasculitis / genetics
  • Vasculitis / immunology*
  • Vasculitis / physiopathology*

Substances

  • Apolipoproteins E
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins