Imaging of Native High-Density Lipoprotein in Human Coronary Plaques by Color Fluorescent Angioscopy

Abstract

Background: High-density lipoprotein (HDL) plays a key role in reverse cholesterol transport, and halts the progression of atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to visualize native HDL in the human coronary arterial wall. Methods and Results:The fluorescence characteristics of HDL were investigated by color fluorescent microscopy (CFM) using excitation at 470 nm and emission at 515 nm with Fast green dye (FG) as the biomarker. HDL in 30 normal coronary segments, and in 25 white and 25 yellow plaques in excised human coronary arteries, was visualized by color fluorescent angioscopy (CFA) and CFM. Localization of HDL visualized by CFM was compared with that stained by immunostaining using an anti-HDL antibody. FG elicited a characteristic brown fluorescence of HDL. By CFA, the percent incidence of HDL in normal segments, white (early stage of plaque growth) and yellow (advanced stage of plaque growth) plaques was, respectively, 33%, 76% (P<0.05 vs. normal segments and yellow plaques) and 21%. Localization of HDL visualized by CFM did not differ from that stained by immunostaining. Conclusions:In the human coronary arterial wall, HDL deposits infrequently in normal segments, but increasingly deposits with plaque formation, and decreases in the advanced stage of plaque growth. (Circ J 2014; 78: 1667 -1675

Recent Advances in Fluorescent Angioscopy for Molecular Imaging of Human Atherosclerotic Coronary Plaque

“…9 ), whereas by immunohistochemical staining, HDL increased in the mature stage ( Fig. 10 ) 38, 43) . Because FG also elicited red fluorescence of LDL/LPC, it is conceivable that the brown fluorescence of HDL was masked by that of LDL/LPC.…”

“…This dye elicits brown fluorescence of LDL and golden fluorescence of ApoB-100 with “B” imaging 35, 36) . FG elicits a brown fluorescence of HDL and a red fluorescence of LDL and LPC with “B” imaging 37, 38) . 3-ANA elicits a dark-brown fluorescence of TG with “A” imaging 39) .…”

“…Constructed using data from our studies [25, 27, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39]. The autopsy subject group differed for substances examined.…”

“…Constructed using data from our studies [25, 35, 37, 38, 43]. Autopsy subject groups differed between CFM and Imm.…”

High-Density Lipoprotein-Targeted Therapy and Apolipoprotein A-I Mimetic Peptides

“…66 Uchida et al have also investigated plaque characteristics using color fluorescent microscopy and shown the fluorescent characteristics of HDL deposits with plaque formation, but not in the advanced stage of plaque in the human coronary arterial wall. 67 We believe that HDL-targeted therapy, including the use of FAMP, has tremendous atheroprotective potential and likely represents a new therapeutic tool for treating atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Although most research is focused on the therapeutic use of HDL, an ApoA-I mimetic peptide may contribute to the development of a technique to diagnose lipidrich, unstable plaques.…”