Key result
Ultrasound-activated targeted microbubbles increase inflammatory monocytes without altering atherosclerotic plaques in diabetic mice.
Why the study?
Diabetes increases plaque instability via inflammation, and ultrasound-activated microbubble cavitation reduced intra-plaque neovascularisation in non-diabetic models, but its effect in a diabetic model was unknown.
Does targeted microbubble cavitation improve atherosclerotic plaques in diabetic ApoE-/- mice?
Does targeted microbubble cavitation improve atherosclerotic plaques in diabetic ApoE-/- mice?
Targeted microbubble cavitation did not improve atherosclerotic plaques and transiently increased inflammatory monocytes in a diabetic mouse model.
No plaque regression seen with targeted microbubble cavitation in diabetic mice; hypothesis-generating for transient monocyte effects.
AIMS: Diabetes mellitus (DM) increases plaque instability via inflammation. Ultrasound-activated microbubble cavitation has previously reduced intra-plaque neovascularisation in non-DM models. Here we studied how ultrasound-activated microbubbles targeted against intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and CD90 affect atherosclerotic plaques in a DM model. METHODS: targeted microbubbles or the vehicle was applied, followed by 1 min of 1 MHz pulsed thoracic ultrasound with 100 kPa peak negative acoustic pressure and a 1 kHz pulse repetition frequency (10% duty cycle). Aortic root plaque characteristics were examined via (immuno)histochemical analyses 4 wk post-treatment. Circulating monocyte subsets were assessed with flow cytometry in blood samples obtained within 3 d pre- and post-treatment, and 4 wk post-treatment. RESULTS: neutrophils. Ultrasound-activated microbubble cavitation significantly increased the percentage of inflammatory classical monocytes within 3 d post-treatment. CONCLUSIONS: mice without atherosclerotic plaque alterations.
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Korn et al. (2026) studied Atherosclerotic plaques in diabetes mellitus. Ultrasound-activated targeted microbubbles vs. Vehicle was evaluated on Aortic root plaque characteristics and circulating monocyte subsets. Ultrasound-activated targeted microbubble cavitation significantly increased inflammatory classical monocytes within 3 days post-treatment without altering atherosclerotic plaques in diabetic mice.
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