Anti-inflammatory mediators for molecular imaging of atherosclerosis

AbstractNanomedicine, a young and innovative field, offers interesting approaches for diagnosis and treatment in personalized medicine. Myocardial infarction and stroke belong to the most important challenges in this context because an improved early diagnosis of individuals well before fatal clinical endpoints occur is urgently needed. The underlying cause of myocardial infarction and stroke is atherosclerosis, a chronic immune-mediated inflammation of the vascular wall involving monocytes, macrophages, T-lymphocytes, and arterial wall cells. Hence, an immense number of pro-inflammatory mediators have been investigated in the context of nanomedicine and atherosclerosis but, interestingly, only few anti-inflammatory biomarkers. Nevertheless, the anti-inflammatory axis is always present as a negative feedback if a critical inflammatory perpetuation destabilizes atherosclerotic lesions. Hence, we could show that the immune-modulating, anti-inflammatory molecules, adiponectin and interleukin-10, are useful for molecular imaging of AS plaques. Based on recent publications in animal models of atherosclerosis, we strongly assume that the inflammatory “brake” mechanisms may represent an interesting new tool to specifically target the scenario of culprit AS-lesions. In this review article we discuss the potential of adiponectin, interleukin-10 and other anti-inflammatory active molecules like targeted liposomes and high dense lipoproteins towards this.