Molecular Imaging of Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaques in Animal Models.
Atherosclerosis is characterized by intimal plaques of the arterial vessels that develop slowly and, in some cases, may undergo spontaneous rupture with subsequent heart attack or stroke. Currently, noninvasive diagnostic tools are inadequate to screen atherosclerotic lesions at high risk of acute complications. Therefore, the attention of the scientific community has been focused on the use of molecular imaging for identifying vulnerable plaques. Genetically engineered murine models such as ApoE(-/-) and ApoE(-/-)Fbn1C1039G(+/-) mice have been shown to be useful for testing new probes targeting biomarkers of relevant molecular processes for the characterization of vulnerable plaques, such as vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-1, VEGFR-2, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, P-selectin, and integrins, and for the potential development of translational tools to identify high-risk patients who could benefit from early therapeutic interventions. This review summarizes the main animal models of vulnerable plaques, with an emphasis on genetically altered mice, and the state-of-the-art preclinical molecular imaging strategies.
Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Via T. De Amicis 95, 80145 Naples, Italy. sara.gargiulo@ibb.cnr.it.
Sara
S
Gargiulo
Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Via T. De Amicis 95, 80145 Naples, Italy. matteo.gramanzini@ibb.cnr.it.
Matteo
M
Gramanzini
Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Via T. De Amicis 95, 80145 Naples, Italy. marcello.mancini@ibb.cnr.it.
Marcello
M
Mancini
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051379:Mice; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D015415:Biomarkers
animal models; atherosclerosis; genetically modified mice; molecular imaging; vulnerable plaques