Atherosclerosis, characterized by the buildup of plaque inside human arteries, is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular diseases. The disease is brought on by a complex interplay between lipids, inflammatory cells, and the ECM. Arterial blood flow is restricted as plaques form, which can rupture to cause blockage. Arterial blockage, or occlusion, is the cause of heart attacks and strokes. As the medical community strives to understand Atherosclerosis to prevent such conditions, innovative tools like Collagen Hybridizing Peptides (CHPs) offer them unprecedented insights into the dynamics of arterial damage and disease progression.

Researchers recently sought to explore the early stages of collagen damage which is associated with arterial remodeling and the initiation of plaque formation in the aorta specifically. To this end, CHP visualization effectively identified damaged collagen at earlier stages of atherosclerosis. They could spatially identify differences in collagen degradation in the aorta over a time period of 18 weeks.

The researchers determined that different sections of the aorta experience different rates of molecular upheaval (characterized in part by collagen turnover). These insights indicate the heterogeneous formation of atherosclerotic lesions, and have the potential to inform researchers where such lesions are more likely to form.

This study highlights the prognostic potential of CHP technology to offer information useful for understanding and treating vascular disease, suggesting a role where CHPs can help guide clinical decision-making and treatment strategies.

Original Publication: Collagen Molecular Damage is a Hallmark of Early Atherosclerosis Development