Porcine models of coronary atherosclerosis and vulnerable plaque for imaging and interventional research.
Animal models facilitate our understanding of human disease by providing a controlled environment permitting testing of mechanisms of disease, diagnostic technologies and therapeutic interventions. The ideal animal model should display coronary lesions resembling those seen in human atherosclerosis. No suitable large animal model of high-risk (vulnerable) plaque exists. Lack of such a model has hampered studies designed to validate imaging technologies and to scrutinise the effects of therapeutic interventions in atherosclerotic arteries. Several porcine models of advanced human-like coronary atherosclerosis exist. In this review some of the most promising porcine models are discussed, focusing on their applicability in the development and validation of coronary imaging technologies and interventional devices. In the evolving era of technological development, the availability and use of such animal models of advanced human-like coronary atherosclerosis and vulnerable plaque will become critically important in the preclinical testing of emerging technologies in interventional cardiology.
Granada
Juan F
JF
Skirball Center for Cardiovascular Research, Cardiovascular Research Foundation, Orangeburg, NY, USA. jgranada@crf.org
Kaluza
Greg L
GL
Wilensky
Robert L
RL
Biedermann
Barbara C
BC
Schwartz
Robert S
RS
Falk
Erling
E
D000818:Animals; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization / Q000379:methods; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013045:Species Specificity; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D016896:Treatment Outcome