The main purpose of the present collection is to provide readers with up-to-date knowledge on the new methodology to study vascular disease on cell, protein, and mRNA levels, both in vivo and in vitro, in humans or in a mouse model. This includes new imaging and artificial intelligence modalities, as well as histopathological analysis extended to difficult tissue retrieval 1 , like calcified arteries. The collection presents four methods that fully answer these questions, providing very interesting cues on how to approach old issues with a modern and technological perspective, showing a rapid technical evolution in this field.
Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a major risk factor for acute kidney injury (AKI) 2 . No specific diagnostic biomarkers have been established, although miRNAs are excellent candidates 3 . Aomatsu et al. 4 developed an interesting AKI mouse model, purifying and quantifying miRNAs by qRT-PCR. They identified 17 upregulated miRNAs with AKI, induced by ischemia-reperfusion damage. The method allows studying the profile of miRNAs in AKI kidneys with a dynamic range, accurate quantification, and high specificity.