Rupture of the atherosclerotic plaque: does a good animal model exist?
By its very nature, rupture of the atherosclerotic plaque is difficult to study directly in humans. A good animal model would help us not only to understand how rupture occurs but also to design and test treatments to prevent it from happening. However, several difficulties surround existing models of plaque rupture, including the need for radical interventions to produce the rupture, lack of direct evidence of rupture per se, and absence of convincing evidence of platelet- and fibrin-rich thrombus at the rupture site. At the present time, attention should therefore focus on the processes of plaque breakdown and thrombus formation in humans, whereas the use of animal models should probably be reserved for studying the function of particular genes and for investigating isolated features of plaques, such as the relationship between cap thickness and plaque stability.
Cullen
Paul
P
Institute of Arteriosclerosis Research, Domagkstrasse 3, D-48149 Muenster, Germany. cullen@uni-muenster.de
Baetta
Roberta
R
Bellosta
Stefano
S
Bernini
Franco
F
Chinetti
Giulia
G
Cignarella
Andrea
A
von Eckardstein
Arnold
A
Exley
Andrew
A
Goddard
Martin
M
Hofker
Marten
M
Hurt-Camejo
Eva
E
Kanters
Edwin
E
Kovanen
Petri
P
Lorkowski
Stefan
S
McPheat
William
W
Pentikäinen
Markku
M
Rauterberg
Jürgen
J
Ritchie
Andrew
A
Staels
Bart
B
Weitkamp
Benedikt
B
de Winther
Menno
M
D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D010856:Columbidae; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D023421:Models, Animal; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D013045:Species Specificity; D013552:Swine; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology