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Detection of transplant vasculopathy in a rat aortic allograft model by fluorescence spectroscopic optical analysis
A Christov1, E Dai, L Liu
1Vascular Biology Group, John P. Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Background And Objective:
Transplant vasculopathy is a leading cause of late cardiac graft loss. We have examined laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy as an optical diagnostic tool for detection of intimal plaque development and inflammatory cellular invasion in a rat model of aortic allograft transplant.
Study Design/Materials And Methods:
Infrarenal aortic segments were transplanted from Lewis to Sprague Dawley rats. A range of vasculopathy development was produced by treatment with a viral anti-inflammatory protein. LIF spectra were recorded from the intima of aortic implants at 28 days. Fluorescence intensity was analyzed for correlation with vasculopathy development.
Results:
Significant differences in LIF intensity at 400-450 nm (P < or = 0.05 by ANOVA) were detected. LIF emission was correlated with plaque growth (R2 = 0.980), vessel narrowing (R2 = 0.964), and cellular invasion (R2 = 0.971) by regression analysis.
Conclusion:
LIF optical analysis provides a nontraumatic diagnostic approach for detection of atherosclerosis prior to cardiac transplant or during development of vasculopathy after transplant.