What does this research mean for the field?

Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles enable in vivo detection and quantification of recruited macrophages within atherosclerotic plaques, demonstrating significantly increased macrophage accumulation following cytokine stimulation. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.METHODOLOGICAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine whether the MRI contrast agent superparamagnetic iron oxide can be used to track and quantify monocyte recruitment into aortic atherosclerotic plaques in vivo.

August 3, 2026CirculationOpen Access

Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide–Based Method for Quantifying Recruitment of Monocytes to Mouse Atherosclerotic Lesions In Vivo

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Cytokine treatment significantly increased the number of iron-positive macrophages per cross section in atherosclerotic plaques compared to sham treatment (42 vs 11.6, P<0.0001).

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Other. Population: Atherosclerosis (n=13). Intervention: Cytokine treatment (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IFN-gamma) and SPIO vs. Sham treatment (saline with 1% BSA) and SPIO. Primary outcome: Iron-positive macrophages per cross section (p=<0.0001).

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Key result

Cytokine treatment increases plaque iron-positive macrophages ~4-fold compared to sham.

P<0.0001
n=13

Population

11 female apo E knockout mice and 2 wild-type C57BL/6 mice.

Comparison

Cytokine treatment followed by superparamagnetic… vs Sham treatment followed by superparamagnetic…

Design

Preclinical

Follow-up

6 days

Authors

SLSilvio LitovskyCross-Cutting Cardiology MMMohammad MadjidHouston Methodist AZAlireza ZarrabiColorado Permanente Medical Group

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) can be used to detect iron-laden macrophages and monitor monocyte recruitment into atherosclerotic lesions in vivo.

Key Points

To determine whether the MRI contrast agent superparamagnetic iron oxide can be used to track and quantify monocyte recruitment into aortic atherosclerotic plaques in vivo.
Eleven 11-month-old female apo E knockout mice were treated with either inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IFN-gamma; n=6) or vehicle sham control (n=5), alongside wild-type C57BL/6 nonatherosclerotic controls (n=2).
Three hours after cytokine or sham treatment, all mice received superparamagnetic iron oxide intravenously (1 mmol/kg iron) and were euthanized six days later for aortic histological and immunocytochemical evaluation.
Atherosclerotic plaques in cytokine-treated apo E knockout mice contained significantly more iron-positive macrophages per cross section than sham-treated apo E knockout controls (42 ± 11.8 vs. 11.6 ± 5.9, P < 0.0001).
Iron-laden macrophages localized to subendothelial plaque surfaces and along the internal elastic lamina at plaque margins, with no iron deposition detected in nonatherosclerotic wild-type controls.

Structured PICO

Population

13 mice (11 female apo E knockout and 2 wild-type) evaluated for monocyte recruitment into aortic atherosclerotic plaques using SPIO over 6 days.

Intervention

Cytokine treatment (tissue necrosis factor-alpha 0.2 microg IP once, interleukin-1beta 0.2 microg IP once, and interferon-gamma 100 U/g per day IP for 5 days) followed by superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) 1 mmol/kg iron IV 3 hours after initial treatment.

Comparator

Sham treatment (0.5 mL saline containing 1% BSA) followed by superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) 1 mmol/kg iron IV.

Outcome

Number of iron-positive macrophages per cross section in aortic atherosclerotic plaques evaluated histologically at 6 days.surrogate

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 42% vs 11.6%

p-value: p=<0.0001

Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) can be used to detect iron-laden macrophages and monitor monocyte recruitment into atherosclerotic lesions in vivo.

Cite This Study

Litovsky et al. (2003) studied Atherosclerosis (n=13). Cytokine treatment (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IFN-gamma) and SPIO vs. Sham treatment (saline with 1% BSA) and SPIO was evaluated on Iron-positive macrophages per cross section (p=<0.0001). Cytokine treatment significantly increased the number of iron-positive macrophages per cross section in atherosclerotic plaques compared to sham treatment (42 vs 11.6, P<0.0001).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a705d09c5e225a3c8a7467b https://doi.org/10.1161/01.cir.0000055323.57885.88

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Implication

Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) can be used to detect iron-laden macrophages and monitor monocyte recruitment into atherosclerotic lesions in vivo.

Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide–Based Method for Quantifying Recruitment of Monocytes to Mouse Atherosclerotic Lesions In Vivo

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Structured PICO

Main Result

Cite This Study

Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide–Based Method for Quantifying Recruitment of Monocytes to Mouse Atherosclerotic Lesions In Vivo

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Structured PICO

Main Result

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider