Research progress in vivo, in vitro, and in silico models of intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis

Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) is a major global cause of stroke with high recurrence risk. However, research on its pathophysiology is limited by difficulties in obtaining histopathological samples and the absence of adequate experimental models. The rising incidence of ICAS imposes a significant burden on families and healthcare systems, highlighting the urgent need for affordable, robust, and reliable animal models to study its prevention and treatment. To better understand the disease, researchers frequently employ animal models to replicate the progression of ICAS in humans. In recent years, many researchers have provided a variety of solutions for modeling methods and intervention protocols in animal models of ICAS, which has greatly improved the success rate of atherosclerosis models. Nevertheless, variations in intervention factors, material selection, and treatment methods have resulted in no consensus on the optimal animal model for ICAS. This review evaluates the strengths and limitations of existing in vivo、in vitro model and computational models of ICAS and the atherosclerotic process, aiming to inform better future models and drive novel stroke-reducing treatment strategies.