Ex vivo examination of atherosclerotic and aortic valve lesions is an indispensable requirement to understand the pathogenesis of both entities. A stylized classification with regard to the methodology used differentiates between morphology, biochemistry and molecular biology. Each of these methods comprises classical and innovative approaches. These range form conventional light microscopy to high-speed confocal Raman microscopy, from classical Western Blot to different proteomic analyses and from well-proven RT-PCR to single-cell sequencing. Besides human atherosclerotic and aortic valve lesions, several animal models but also tissue models provide the targets for these multifaced methods.Just the diversity of the methodology, however, presents a pestering issue that will be addressed by the present research topic. What are the pros and cons of the different methods and models? How valid are the different methods and models and what are their limitations? Which methods really answer questions concerning the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and aortic valve sclerosis and which one only end in itself? Comprehensive and critical assessments are needed to clearly define the drawbacks and opportunities of the different methods and models. Alternatively, innovative new methodological approaches might broaden one´s horizon with regard to fundamental questions regarding atherosclerosis and aortic valve sclerosis. This Research Topic will accept articles on the definition of developmental stages, immunolocalization of specific cell types, single-cell transcriptomic, lipid stain and/or analysis, pros and cons of different animal models, comparison of human and animal atherosclerotic and aortic valve lesions and, not least, the comparison of human atherosclerotic and aortic valve lesions recognizing both similarities and differences. At best, the present Research Topic will illustrate how methodology accounts for our understanding (and possibly misunderstanding) of the pathogenesis of two fundamental diseases with high impact on global health.
Ex vivo examination of atherosclerotic and aortic valve lesions is an indispensable requirement to understand the pathogenesis of both entities. A stylized classification with regard to the methodology used differentiates between morphology, biochemistry and molecular biology. Each of these methods comprises classical and innovative approaches. These range form conventional light microscopy to high-speed confocal Raman microscopy, from classical Western Blot to different proteomic analyses and from well-proven RT-PCR to single-cell sequencing. Besides human atherosclerotic and aortic valve lesions, several animal models but also tissue models provide the targets for these multifaced methods.Just the diversity of the methodology, however, presents a pestering issue that will be addressed by the present research topic. What are the pros and cons of the different methods and models? How valid are the different methods and models and what are their limitations? Which methods really answer questions concerning the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and aortic valve sclerosis and which one only end in itself? Comprehensive and critical assessments are needed to clearly define the drawbacks and opportunities of the different methods and models. Alternatively, innovative new methodological approaches might broaden one´s horizon with regard to fundamental questions regarding atherosclerosis and aortic valve sclerosis. This Research Topic will accept articles on the definition of developmental stages, immunolocalization of specific cell types, single-cell transcriptomic, lipid stain and/or analysis, pros and cons of different animal models, comparison of human and animal atherosclerotic and aortic valve lesions and, not least, the comparison of human atherosclerotic and aortic valve lesions recognizing both similarities and differences. At best, the present Research Topic will illustrate how methodology accounts for our understanding (and possibly misunderstanding) of the pathogenesis of two fundamental diseases with high impact on global health.