基质金属蛋白酶在动脉粥样硬化易损斑块中的分子影像学研究

Molecular Imaging of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Vulnerable Plaque in Atherosclerosis

大量研究表明,依赖Ca2+、Zn2+等金属离子的基质金属蛋白酶在动脉粥样硬化斑块处的表达与斑块的稳定性密切相关,易损斑块处基质金属蛋白酶表达水平增高。单光子发射体层成像、近红外荧光成像、磁共振成像等分子影像学的方法,能够动态无创地检测动物模型动脉斑块或人颈动脉斑块切除后标本中基质金属蛋白酶的表达水平,不仅可以提示疾病的发展进程,而且能够评价药物的治疗效果。尽管大多数斑块成像的分子影像学手段尚未达到临床应用的阶段,但合成多模态的分子探针,综合运用各种不同的影像学方法将是动脉粥样硬化斑块成像的发展方向。

Many researches indicate that the expression of matrix metalloproteinases（MMPs） in atherosclerotic plaques,whose activities involved with metal ions,such as Ca2＋ or Zn2＋,is closely related to the stability of the plaques.There is an increased expression level of MMPs in vulnerable plaque.Molecular imaging methods,such as single photon emission computed tomography,near-infrared fluorescence imaging and magnetic resonance imaging provide dynamic and noninvasive ways in detectting the expression level of MMPs in the atherosclerosis plaque in the animal models or the tissue after carotid ectomy in patients.These methods can be used not only in prompting the progression of atherosclerosis but also evaluating the therapeutic effect of drugs.Although the majority of plaque imaging methods has not yet reached the stage of clinical application,the synthesis of multi-modality molecular probes and comprehensive use of different imaging methods will be the trend of atherosclerotic plaque imaging.