2026 Volume 44 Issue 2 Pages 80-85
Venous thrombosis is a highly lethal cardiovascular disorder. However, the mechanisms underlying the progression from microthrombus initiation to mature thrombus formation within the same individual remain incompletely elucidated. This study employed in vivo X-ray CT imaging enhanced with a gold nanoparticle (AuNP) as an X-ray contrast agent to visualize the dynamic process of venous thrombus formation. This strategy enabled chronological imaging of thrombus growth―am approximately 200-μm increase along the short axis―in an individual murine model while preserving the spatial location between the thrombus and the venous wall. In addition, synchrotron radiation–based X-ray CT imaging of harvested thrombi provided high-resolution visualization of the internal cellular and protein distribution, revealing the spatial distribution of cellular and proteinaceous components and the formation of a multilayered structure during thrombus formation. Notably, we identified the localization of AuNPs within mature thrombi, implying a potential association with intra-thrombus immune-cell dynamics. Collectively, these findings establish a refined framework for understanding the sequential processes of initiation, expansion, dissolution (or lysis), and subsequent embolization. Our integrated imaging paradigm is expected to contribute to the elucidation of the pathology of venous thrombosis and the establishment of more effective therapeutic strategies.
