Rofo 2010; 182 - VO315_1
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1252792

Atherosclerosis, Inflammation and Lipoprotein Glomerulopathy in Kidneys of ApoE-/-/LDL-/- double knockout mice

A Langheinrich 1, M Kampschulte 1, F Scheiter 1, C Dierkes 2, P Stieger 3, RM Bohle 4, W Weidner 5
  • 1Universitätsklinikum Giessen, Radiologie, Giessen
  • 2Universitätsklinikum Giessen, Pathologie, Giessen
  • 3Universitätsklinikum Giessen, Kardiologie, Giessen
  • 4Universitätsklinikum Homburg/Saar, Pathologie, Homburg/Saar
  • 5Universitätsklinikum Giessen, Urologie, Giessen

Ziele: The apoE-/-/LDL-/- double knockout mice are bearing considerable structural homology to human atherosclerosis. We hypothesized, that advanced lesion formation in the renal artery is associated with kidney dysfunction in these mice. Methode: Kidneys from apoE-/-/LDL-/- double knockout mice at the age of 80 weeks (n=6) and C57/BL control mice (n=5) were infused with Microfil, harvested and scanned with micro-CT (12µm cubic voxels) and Nano-CT (900 nm cubic voxels). We quantitated the total vascular volume using micro-CT. Number and area (µm2) of glomeruli was measured using histology. Ergebnis: At the age of 80 weeks, the renal total vascular volume fraction decreased significantly (p<0.001) compared to controls. Moreover, the renal artery showed advanced athersclerotic lesions with calcifications, intraplaque hemorrhage and adventitial vasa vasorum neovascularization. Perivascular inflammation was present in kidneys of apoE-/-/LDL-/- double knockout mice, predominantly involved are plasmacells and leucocytes. Glomeruli dimensions' (9959 +/- 1083 micrometer^2) and number (24.8 +/- 4.5) increased in apoE-/-/LDL-/- double knockout mice compared to controls (3533 +/- 398 micrometer^2, 17.6 +/- 3, respectively), whereas 41% of the total number of glomeruli showed evidence for lipoprotein associated glomerulopathy (LPG). Moreover, immunhistochemestry demonstrated capillary aneurysms of the glomeruli filled with factor 8 containing lipoprotein emboli. Schlussfolgerung: The reduced intra-renal total vascular volume is associated with renal inflammation, suggesting a direct relationship between atherosclerosis, inflammation and glomeruli alterations.

Korrespondierender Autor: Langheinrich A

Universitätsklinikum Giessen, Radiologie, Klinikstraße 35, 35385 Giessen

E-Mail: alexander.langheinrich@radiol.med.uni-giessen.de