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Updated: Jun 25, 2026
Multimodal Study of Murine Cardiovascular Remodeling: Four-Dimensional Ultrasound and Mass Spectrometry Imaging
Published on: January 10, 2025
Molecular imaging targets of cardiac remodeling
Jamshid Shirani1, Vasken Dilsizian
1Department of Cardiology, Geisinger Medical Center, 100 North Academy Avenue, Danville, PA 17822-2160, USA. jshirani1@geisinger.edu
Insights
Molecular imaging aids understanding of left ventricular (LV) remodeling in heart failure (HF). This approach targets individual patient differences for personalized HF assessment and monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Molecular Imaging
- Heart Failure Pathophysiology
Background:
- Left ventricular (LV) remodeling significantly impacts systolic heart failure (HF) prognosis.
- Neurohormonal and inflammatory pathways mediate LV remodeling via intracellular signaling.
- Genetic factors contribute to interindividual differences in HF progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the application of molecular imaging in understanding LV remodeling mechanisms in HF.
- To explore how molecular imaging can enable personalized HF assessment and monitoring.
- To bridge the gap between basic science understanding and clinical HF management.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on molecular imaging techniques in HF.
- Analysis of studies investigating cellular and molecular mechanisms of LV remodeling.
- Focus on imaging modalities applicable to individual patient assessment.
Main Results:
- Molecular imaging offers insights into the cellular and molecular basis of LV remodeling.
- It allows for the identification of specific pathophysiologic mechanisms at the individual level.
- Current techniques provide tools for serial evaluation and monitoring of HF progression.
Conclusions:
- Molecular imaging is crucial for understanding individual LV remodeling in HF.
- This technology supports the development of personalized, evidence-based HF management strategies.
- Future applications aim to improve HF patient outcomes through targeted therapies.
Abstract:
Left ventricular (LV) remodeling is a major determinant of the clinical course and outcome of systolic heart failure (HF). Activation of neurohormonal and inflammatory cytokine pathways and their effects on intracellular signal transduction cascades through stimulation of membrane-bound receptors mediate LV remodeling. Although major advances have been made in clinical management of HF through large randomized trials, its prognosis remains poor. Interindividual differences, often genetically based, are increasingly recognized as important determinants of LV remodeling. Identification of the influence of these individual factors on the clinical course of HF has stimulated a search for specific pathophysiologic mechanisms that operate at the individual level and can be targeted directly. This article summarizes the current application of molecular imaging techniques to the understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in LV remodeling in an attempt to provide the tools necessary for personalized, truly "evidence-based" assessment, serial evaluation, and monitoring of HF.
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