Molecular Imaging of Platelet-Endothelial Interactions and Endothelial von Willebrand Factor in Early and Mid-Stage Atherosclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Nonthrombotic platelet-endothelial interactions may contribute to atherosclerotic plaque development, although in vivo studies examining mechanism without platelet preactivation are lacking. Using in vivo molecular imaging at various stages of atherosclerosis, we quantified platelet-endothelial interactions and evaluated the contribution of major adhesion pathways.

Methods and results

Mice deficient for the low-density lipoprotein receptor and Apobec-1 were studied as an age-dependent model of atherosclerosis at 10, 20, 30, and 40 weeks of age, which provided progressive increase in stage from early fatty streak (10 weeks) to large complex plaques without rupture (40 weeks). Platelet-targeted contrast ultrasound molecular imaging of the thoracic aorta performed wi

SUBMITTER: Shim CY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4499865 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature