In Vivo Imaging of Proteolytic Activity in Atherosclerosis

Abstract

These studies indicate that cathepsin B, and potentially other proteases, may serve as a biomarker for vulnerable plaques when probed with beacons. The tomographic in vivo imaging method as well as catheter-based optical sensing methods could be readily adapted to screening and potentially to the molecular profiling of a number of proteases in vulnerable plaque in vivo.