Atherosclerotic Plaque Instability and Rupture: Recommended Mouse Models to Empower Clinically Relevant Discoveries, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics

Abstract

Clinical Problem: – Atherosclerotic plaque instability/rupture is the major driver of myocardial infarction and stroke, the leading causes of cardiovascular morbidity/mortality. However, the mechanisms leading to plaque rupture are poorly understood. This limits our ability to establish sensitive and diagnostic tools to identify plaques that are prone to rupture and to develop much-needed plaque-stabilizing therapies. Recommendations: – The diagnostic identification and therapeutic stabilization of unstable plaques are considered the holy grail of cardiovascular medicine, holding the potential to significantly reduce cardiovascular morbidity/mortality. To achieve this, it is vital that precl..