Past, current and future concepts in atherosclerotic biobanking

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Pathology
• Biomedical Research
• Translational Medicine

Background:

• Atherosclerotic disease pathogenesis knowledge primarily stems from pathological examination of vascular tissue.
• Human tissue biobanking is a multidisciplinary effort involving epidemiologists, pathologists, and biologists.
• Current biobanks often yield specimens representing late-stage disease, limiting longitudinal progression studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the accomplishments of atherosclerotic tissue biobanking.
• To discuss the future potential of atherosclerotic plaque biobanks.
• To highlight how biobanking aids in understanding disease progression.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on atherosclerotic biobanking.
• Analysis of insights gained from pathological studies.
• Discussion of technological advancements in genetic and proteomic screening.

Main Results:

• Biobanking has provided crucial insights into atherosclerotic plaque progression and destabilization.
• Cross-sectional biobank designs can limit understanding of disease progression dynamics.
• High-throughput screening technologies offer new avenues for research.

Conclusions:

• Atherosclerotic tissue biobanking has significantly contributed to understanding disease pathogenesis.
• Future biobanking strategies should aim to overcome limitations of cross-sectional designs.
• Enhanced biobanking will be vital for future discoveries in cardiovascular disease research.