Ex vivo 18F-fluoride uptake and hydroxyapatite deposition in human coronary atherosclerosis
Alastair J. Moss, Alisia Sim, Philip D Adamson, Michael A. Seidman, Jack Andrews, Mhairi Doris, Anoop Shah, Ralph BouHaidar, Carlos J. Alcaide‐Corral, Michelle C. Williams, Jonathon Leipsic, Marc R. Dweck, Vicky E. MacRae, David E. Newby, Adriana Tavares, Stephanie Sellers
Abstract
Abstract Early microcalcification is a feature of coronary plaques with an increased propensity to rupture and to cause acute coronary syndromes. In this ex vivo imaging study of coronary artery specimens, the non-invasive imaging radiotracer, 18 F-fluoride, was highly selective for hydroxyapatite deposition in atherosclerotic coronary plaque. Specifically, coronary 18 F-fluoride uptake had a high signal to noise ratio compared with surrounding myocardium that makes it feasible to identify coronary mineralisation activity. Areas of 18 F-fluoride uptake are associated with osteopontin, an inflammation-associated glycophosphoprotein that mediates tissue mineralisation, and Runt-related transcription factor 2, a nuclear protein involved in osteoblastic differentiation. These results suggest that 18 F-fluoride is a non-invasive imaging biomarker of active coronary atherosclerotic mineralisation.