Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 16, 2026
In Vivo Quantitative Assessment of Myocardial Structure, Function, Perfusion and Viability Using Cardiac Micro-computed Tomography
Published on: February 16, 2016
Monocyte imaging after myocardial infarction with 19F MRI at 3 T: a pilot study in explanted porcine hearts
F Bönner1, M W Merx2, K Klingel3
1Department of Cardiology, Pulmonology and Vascular Medicine, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany Department of Molecular Cardiology, Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstr. 1, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany.
Aim:
Inflammation is a hallmark of cardiac healing after myocardial infarction and it determines subsequent cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present study was to explore whether inflammation imaging with two perfluorocarbon (PFC) nanoemulsions and fluorine magnetic resonance imaging ((19)F MRI) is feasible at 3.0 T with sufficient signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) using explanted hearts, an (19)F surface coil and dedicated MR sequences.
Methods And Results:
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was induced by balloon angioplasty (50 min) of the distal left anterior descending artery in 12 pigs. One day thereafter, PFCs were injected intravenously to label circulating monocytes. Either emulsified perfluoro-15-crown-5 ether or already clinically applied perfluorooctyl bromide (PFOB) was applied. Four days after AMI and immediately after gadolinium administration, hearts were explanted and imaged with a 3.0 T Achieva MRI scanner. (19)F MRI could be acquired with an SNR of >15 using an in-plane resolution of 2 × 2 mm(2) within <20 min for both agents. Combined late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and (19)F MRI revealed that (19)F signal was inhomogenously distributed across LGE myocardium reflecting patchy macrophage infiltration as confirmed by histology. In whole hearts, we found an apico-basal (19)F gradient within LGE-positive myocardium. The (19)F-positive volume was always smaller than LGE volume. Ex vivo experiments on isolated monocytes revealed that pig and human cells phagocytize PFCs even more avidly than mouse monocytes.
Conclusion:
This pilot study demonstrates that (19)F MRI at 3.0 T with clinically applicable PFOB is feasible, thus highlighting the potential of (19)F MRI to monitor the inflammatory response after AMI.
Insights
Fluorine magnetic resonance imaging ((19)F MRI) can visualize cardiac inflammation after myocardial infarction using perfluorocarbon (PFC) nanoemulsions. This technique shows potential for monitoring the inflammatory response in heart healing.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Biomedical Engineering
- Inflammation Research
Background:
- Cardiac healing after myocardial infarction involves inflammation, impacting patient outcomes.
- Assessing this inflammation is crucial for understanding cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility of inflammation imaging using perfluorocarbon (PFC) nanoemulsions and fluorine magnetic resonance imaging ((19)F MRI) at 3.0 Tesla.
- To determine if (19)F MRI provides sufficient signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for imaging explanted hearts.
Main Methods:
- Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was induced in pigs.
- Perfluorocarbon (PFC) nanoemulsions (perfluoro-15-crown-5 ether or perfluorooctyl bromide (PFOB)) were intravenously injected to label monocytes.
- Explanted hearts were imaged using (19)F MRI at 3.0 T with a surface coil and dedicated sequences.
Main Results:
- (19)F MRI achieved an SNR >15 with 2x2 mm(2) resolution in under 20 minutes for both PFC agents.
- Combined late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and (19)F MRI showed inhomogeneous (19)F signal distribution in LGE myocardium, correlating with macrophage infiltration.
- Monocytes from pigs and humans avidly phagocytized PFCs ex vivo.
Conclusions:
- (19)F MRI at 3.0 T is feasible for imaging cardiac inflammation post-myocardial infarction using clinically applicable perfluorooctyl bromide (PFOB).
- This technique holds promise for monitoring the inflammatory response during cardiac healing.
