Applications of Two-Dimensional Electrophoresis Technology to the Study of Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disease in which hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and other risk factors are thought to play a role. However, the molecular processes underlying plaque formation and progression are not yet completely known. In the last years some researchers applied proteomics technologies for the comprehension of biochemical pathways of atherogenesis and to search new cardiovascular biomarkers to be utilized either as early diagnostic traits or as targets for new drug therapies. Due to its intrinsic complexity, the problem has been approached by different strategies, all of which have some limitations. In this review, we summarize the most common critical experimental variables in two-dimensional electrophoresis-based techniques and recent data obtained by applying proteomic approaches in the study of atherosclerosis.