Molecular imaging of myocardial infarction

Molecular tools are rapidly elucidating the molecular and cellular processes underlying myocardial infarction. To further understand these biological processes in vivo, investigators are embracing the burgeoning field of molecular imaging. Here we review important aspects of molecular imaging technology and then devote the majority of the text to studies that shed light on the in vivo pathogenesis of myocardial infarction. In particular, we focus on post-infarction healing and remodeling and discuss molecular imaging of proteolytic activity, angiogenesis, transglutaminase activity, and apoptosis. In the future, novel reporter agents and high-resolution cardiac imaging systems should enable imaging of emerging targets such as activated macrophages and myeloperoxidase activity, as well as stem cell-based and gene therapy-based myocardial regenerative strategies, in both experimental and clinical subjects.