Animal models and potential mechanisms of plaque destabilisation and disruption
- The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education and Chinese Ministry of Health, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Correspondence to Professor Yun Zhang, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, No107, Wen Hua Xi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People’s Republic of China; zhangyun{at}sdu.edu.cn
- Accepted 16 December 2008
- Published Online First 19 January 2009
Abstract
Studies of the pathophysiological mechanism of both acute coronary syndromes and plaque stabilising treatment are driving the development of animal models of vulnerable plaque. In contrast to advances in human studies of pathology, the definition, criteria and classification of vulnerable and ruptured plaques in animal models are still in dispute. Many approaches to increasing the intrinsic vulnerability of plaques or extrinsic forces on plaques have been reported. However, an ideal animal model mimicking human plaque rupture is still lacking, and the exact cellular and molecular mechanisms of plaque progression are not fully understood. This review summarises current progress in animal model studies related to plaque destabilisation and disruption and the possible mechanisms involved.
Footnotes
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Funding This work was supported by the National 973 Basic Research Program of China (No 2006CB503803), the National High-tech Research and Development Program of China (No 2006AA02A406), the Program of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities (No B07035) and the State Key Program of National Natural Science of China (No 60831003).
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Competing interests None.
