title: Recent Advances in Fluorescent Angioscopy for Molecular Imaging of Human Atherosclerotic Coronary Plaque.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In vivo imaging of the native substances, including lipoproteins, that comprise human atherosclerotic plaques is currently beyond the scope of any available imaging techniques. Color and near-infrared fluorescent angioscopy (CFA and NIRFA, respectively) systems have been recently developed for molecular imaging of lipoproteins within the human coronary arterial wall ex vivo and/or in vivo. The author reviews recent findings on lipoprotein deposition in human coronary plaques obtained by these imaging techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using specific biomarkers, native pro-atherogenic substances such as oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), LDL, triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein B-100 (ApoB-100), and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), and the anti-atherogenic substance such as high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were visualized by CFA, and LDL and cholesterol by NIRFA, in coronary plaques obtained from autopsy subjects. The relationship between incidence and plaque morphology differed for each substance. The incidence of ox-LDL and LDL on color fluorescence microscopy correlated well with that observed using immunohistochemical techniques. During coronary catheterization in patients, ox-LDL, LDL, and HDL in coronary plaques were visualized by CFA or NIRFA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using CFA or NIRFA, the distribution of the major native pro-atherogenic and anti-atherogenic lipoproteins and their components within human coronary plaques can be evaluated ex vivo and/or in vivo. Fluorescent angioscopy could help our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of coronary atherosclerosis and in the evaluation of the effects of therapy targeting the substances comprising atherosclerotic coronary plaques.
authors.affiliation: Japan Foundation for Cardiovascular Research.
authors.forename: Yasumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uchida
mesh_terms: D017546:Angioscopy / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100 / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D003116:Color; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000378:metabolism; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000378:metabolism; D003331:Coronary Vessels; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000737:chemistry; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines / Q000378:metabolism; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100; D015415:Biomarkers; D008074:Lipoproteins; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines; D014280:Triglycerides; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Apolipoproteins; Biomarkers; Color fluorescent angioscopy; Immunohistochemistry; Lipoproteins; Near-infrared fluorescent angioscopy