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

Abstract
Background— It has been found recently that the MRI contrast agent superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) localizes to aortic atherosclerotic plaques. We therefore asked whether SPIO might be used to monitor monocyte recruitment into aortic atherosclerotic plaques.