title: MRI-based assessment of endothelial function in mice in vivo.
abstract: While a healthy endothelium serves to maintain vascular haemostasis, a malfunctioning endothelium leads to various cardiovascular diseases, including atherothrombosis. Endothelial dysfunction is characterized by increased vascular permeability, impaired endothelium-dependent responses and various pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic changes in endothelial phenotype, all of which could provide the basis for an in vivo diagnosis of endothelial dysfunction. In the present review, we briefly summarize the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based methods available for assessing endothelial function in animal models, especially in mice. These methods are aimed to assess biochemical phenotype using molecular imaging, endothelium-dependent responses or changes in endothelial permeability. All these approaches provide a complementary insight into the endothelial dysfunction in vivo and may offer a unique opportunity to study endothelium-based mechanisms of diseases and endothelial response to treatment.
authors: Department of MRI, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland; Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Bar
authors: Department of MRI, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland. Electronic address: tomasz.skorka@ifj.edu.pl.
authors: Tomasz
authors: T
authors: Skorka
authors: Department of MRI, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland.
authors: Krzysztof
authors: K
authors: Jasinski
authors: Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland; Jagiellonian Centre for Experimental Therapeutics (JCET), Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Chlopicki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Endothelium; MRI