1
|
Vargas AI, Tarraf SA, Jennings T, Bellini C, Amini R. Vascular Remodeling During Late-Gestation Pregnancy: An In-Vitro Assessment of the Murine Ascending Thoracic Aorta. J Biomech Eng 2024; 146:071004. [PMID: 38345599 DOI: 10.1115/1.4064744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Maternal mortality due to cardiovascular disease is a rising concern in the U.S. Pregnancy triggers changes in the circulatory system, potentially influencing the structure of the central vasculature. Evidence suggests a link between a woman's pregnancy history and future cardiovascular health, but our understanding remains limited. To fill this gap, we examined the passive mechanics of the murine ascending thoracic aorta during late gestation. By performing biaxial mechanical testing on the ascending aorta, we were able to characterize the mechanical properties of both control and late-gestation tissues. By examining mechanical, structural, and geometric properties, we confirmed that remodeling of the aortic wall occurred. Morphological and mechanical properties of the tissue indicated an outward expansion of the tissue, as reflected in changes in wall thickness (∼12% increase) and luminal diameter (∼6% increase) at its physiologically loaded state in the pregnant group. With these geometric adaptations and despite increased hemodynamic loads, pregnancy did not induce significant changes in the tensile wall stress at the similar physiological pressure levels of the pregnant and control tissues. The alterations also included reduced intrinsic stiffness in the circumferential direction (∼18%) and reduced structural stiffness (∼26%) in the pregnant group. The observed vascular remodeling maintained the elastic stored energy of the aortic wall under systolic loads, indicating preservation of vascular function. Data from our study of pregnancy-related vascular remodeling will provide valuable insights for future investigations of maternal cardiovascular health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana I Vargas
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Samar A Tarraf
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115
- Northeastern University
| | - Turner Jennings
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115
- Northeastern University
| | - Chiara Bellini
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Rouzbeh Amini
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tarraf SA, Kramer B, Vianna E, Gillespie C, Germano E, Emerton KB, Amini R, Colbrunn R, Hargrave J, Roselli EE, Bellini C. Lengthwise regional mechanics of the human aneurysmal ascending thoracic aorta. Acta Biomater 2023; 162:266-277. [PMID: 36944405 PMCID: PMC10148908 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
The prognosis of patients undergoing emergency endovascular repair of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (ATAA) depends on defect location, with root disease bearing worse outcomes than proximal or distal aortopathy. We speculate that a spatial gradient in aneurysmal tissue mechanics through the length of the ascending thoracic aorta may fuel noted survival discrepancies. To this end, we performed planar biaxial testing on 153 root, proximal, and distal segments of ATAA samples collected from 80 patients receiving elective open surgical repair. Following data averaging via surface fitting-based interpolation of strain-controlled protocols, we combined in-vitro and in-vivo measurements of loads and geometry to resolve inflation-extension kinematics and evaluate mechanical metrics of stress, stiffness, and energy at consistent deformation levels. Representative (averaged) experimental data and simulated in-vivo conditions revealed significantly larger biaxial stiffness at the root compared to either proximal or distal tissues, which persisted as the entire aorta stiffened during aging. Advancing age further reduced biaxial stretch and energy storage, a measure of aortic function, across all ATAA segments. Importantly, age emerged as a stronger predictor of tissue mechanics in ATAA disease than either bicuspid aortic valve or connective tissue disorders. Besides strengthening the general understanding of aneurysmal disease, our findings provide specifications to customize the design of stent-grafts for the treatment of ATAA disease. Optimization of deployment and interaction of novel endovascular devices with the local native environment is expected to carry significant potential for improving clinical outcomes. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Elucidating the lengthwise regional mechanics of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms (ATAAs) is critical for the design of endovascular devices tailored to the ascending aorta. Stent-grafts provide a less invasive alternative to support the long-term survival of ATAA patients ineligible for open surgical repair. In this study, we developed a numerical framework that combines semi-inverse constitutive and forward modeling with in-vitro and in-vivo data to extract mechanical descriptors of ATAA tissue behavior at physiologically meaningful deformation. Moving distally from the aortic root to the first ascending aortic branch, we observed a progressive decline in biaxial stiffness. Furthermore, we showed that aging leads to reduced aortic function and is a stronger predictor of mechanics than either valve morphology or underlying syndromic disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samar A Tarraf
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA, 02125 USA
| | - Benjamin Kramer
- Aortic Center, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Emily Vianna
- Aortic Center, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Callan Gillespie
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, BioRobotics and Mechanical Testing Core, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Emídio Germano
- Aortic Center, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Kelly B Emerton
- Aortic Center, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Rouzbeh Amini
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA, 02125 USA; Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA, 02125 USA
| | - Robb Colbrunn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, BioRobotics and Mechanical Testing Core, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Jennifer Hargrave
- Department of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Eric E Roselli
- Aortic Center, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, BioRobotics and Mechanical Testing Core, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Chiara Bellini
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA, 02125 USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Roberts E, Xu T, Assoian RK. Cell contractility and focal adhesion kinase control circumferential arterial stiffness. VASCULAR BIOLOGY (BRISTOL, ENGLAND) 2022; 4:28-39. [PMID: 36222505 PMCID: PMC9782408 DOI: 10.1530/vb-22-0013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Arterial stiffening is a hallmark of aging and cardiovascular disease. While it is well established that vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) contribute to arterial stiffness by synthesizing and remodeling the arterial extracellular matrix, the direct contributions of SMC contractility and mechanosensors to arterial stiffness, and particularly the arterial response to pressure, remain less well understood despite being a long-standing question of biomedical importance. Here, we have examined this issue by combining the use of pressure myography of intact carotid arteries, pharmacologic inhibition of contractility, and genetic deletion of SMC focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Biaxial inflation-extension tests performed at physiological pressures showed that acute inhibition of cell contractility with blebbistatin or EGTA altered vessel geometry and preferentially reduced circumferential, as opposed to axial, arterial stiffness in wild-type mice. Similarly, genetic deletion of SMC FAK, which attenuated arterial contraction to KCl, reduced vessel wall thickness and circumferential arterial stiffness in response to pressure while having minimal effect on axial mechanics. Moreover, these effects of FAK deletion were lost by treating arteries with blebbistatin or by inhibiting myosin light-chain kinase. The expression of arterial fibrillar collagens, the integrity of arterial elastin, or markers of SMC differentiation were not affected by the deletion of SMC FAK. Our results connect cell contractility and SMC FAK to the regulation of arterial wall thickness and directionally specific arterial stiffening.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Roberts
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Tina Xu
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Richard K Assoian
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
White SE, Kiley JX, Visniauskas B, Lindsey SH, Miller KS. Biaxial Murine Vaginal Remodeling With Reproductive Aging. J Biomech Eng 2022; 144:061010. [PMID: 35425969 PMCID: PMC10782864 DOI: 10.1115/1.4054362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Higher reproductive age is associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, and severe vaginal tearing during delivery. Further, menopause is associated with vaginal stiffening. However, the mechanical properties of the vagina during reproductive aging before the onset of menopause are unknown. Therefore, the first objective of this study was to quantify the biaxial mechanical properties of the nulliparous murine vagina with reproductive aging. Menopause is further associated with a decrease in elastic fiber content, which may contribute to vaginal stiffening. Hence, our second objective was to determine the effect of elastic fiber disruption on the biaxial vaginal mechanical properties. To accomplish this, vaginal samples from CD-1 mice aged 2-14 months underwent extension-inflation testing protocols (n = 64 total; n = 16/age group). Then, half of the samples were randomly allocated to undergo elastic fiber fragmentation via elastase digestion (n = 32 total; 8/age group) to evaluate the role of elastic fibers. The material stiffness increased with reproductive age in both the circumferential and axial directions within the control and elastase-treated vaginas. The vagina demonstrated anisotropic mechanical behavior, and anisotropy increased with age. In summary, vaginal remodeling with reproductive age included increased direction-dependent material stiffness, which further increased following elastic fiber disruption. Further work is needed to quantify vaginal remodeling during pregnancy and postpartum with reproductive aging to better understand how age-related vaginal remodeling may contribute to an increased risk of vaginal tearing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shelby E. White
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University, 6823 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118
| | - Jasmine X. Kiley
- Department of Biology, Tulane University, 6823 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118
| | - Bruna Visniauskas
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University, 1430 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118
| | - Sarah H. Lindsey
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University, 1430 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118
| | - Kristin S. Miller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University, 6823 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Hermans LHL, Van Kelle MAJ, Oomen PJA, Lopata R.GP, Loerakker S, Bouten CVC. Scaffold Geometry-Imposed Anisotropic Mechanical Loading Guides the Evolution of the Mechanical State of Engineered Cardiovascular Tissues in vitro. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:796452. [PMID: 35252127 PMCID: PMC8888825 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.796452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular tissue engineering is a promising approach to develop grafts that, in contrast to current replacement grafts, have the capacity to grow and remodel like native tissues. This approach largely depends on cell-driven tissue growth and remodeling, which are highly complex processes that are difficult to control inside the scaffolds used for tissue engineering. For several tissue engineering approaches, adverse tissue growth and remodeling outcomes were reported, such as aneurysm formation in vascular grafts, and leaflet retraction in heart valve grafts. It is increasingly recognized that the outcome of tissue growth and remodeling, either physiological or pathological, depends at least partly on the establishment of a homeostatic mechanical state, where one or more mechanical quantities in a tissue are maintained in equilibrium. To design long-term functioning tissue engineering strategies, understanding how scaffold parameters such as geometry affect the mechanical state of a construct, and how this state guides tissue growth and remodeling, is therefore crucial. Here, we studied how anisotropic versus isotropic mechanical loading—as imposed by initial scaffold geometry—influences tissue growth, remodeling, and the evolution of the mechanical state and geometry of tissue-engineered cardiovascular constructs in vitro. Using a custom-built bioreactor platform and nondestructive mechanical testing, we monitored the mechanical and geometric changes of elliptical and circular, vascular cell-seeded, polycaprolactone-bisurea scaffolds during 14 days of dynamic loading. The elliptical and circular scaffold geometries were designed using finite element analysis, to induce anisotropic and isotropic dynamic loading, respectively, with similar maximum stretch when cultured in the bioreactor platform. We found that the initial scaffold geometry-induced (an)isotropic loading of the engineered constructs differentially dictated the evolution of their mechanical state and geometry over time, as well as their final structural organization. These findings demonstrate that controlling the initial mechanical state of tissue-engineered constructs via scaffold geometry can be used to influence tissue growth and remodeling and determine tissue outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L. H. L. Hermans
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - M. A. J. Van Kelle
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - P. J. A. Oomen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - R .G. P. Lopata
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - S. Loerakker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: S. Loerakker,
| | - C. V. C. Bouten
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Clark-Patterson GL, McGuire JA, Desrosiers L, Knoepp LR, De Vita R, Miller KS. Investigation of Murine Vaginal Creep Response to Altered Mechanical Loads. J Biomech Eng 2021; 143:1119395. [PMID: 34494082 DOI: 10.1115/1.4052365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The vagina is a viscoelastic fibromuscular organ that provides support to the pelvic organs. The viscoelastic properties of the vagina are understudied but may be critical for pelvic stability. Most studies evaluate vaginal viscoelasticity under a single uniaxial load; however, the vagina is subjected to dynamic multiaxial loading in the body. It is unknown how varied multiaxial loading conditions affect vaginal viscoelastic behavior and which microstructural processes dictate the viscoelastic response. Therefore, the objective was to develop methods using extension-inflation protocols to quantify vaginal viscoelastic creep under various circumferential and axial loads. Then, the protocol was applied to quantify vaginal creep and collagen microstructure in the fibulin-5 wildtype and haploinsufficient vaginas. To evaluate pressure-dependent creep, the fibulin-5 wildtype and haploinsufficient vaginas (n = 7/genotype) were subjected to various constant pressures at the physiologic length for 100 s. For axial length-dependent creep, the vaginas (n = 7/genotype) were extended to various fixed axial lengths then subjected to the mean in vivo pressure for 100 s. Second-harmonic generation imaging was performed to quantify collagen fiber organization and undulation (n = 3/genotype). Increased pressure significantly increased creep strain in the wildtype, but not the haploinsufficient vagina. The axial length did not significantly affect the creep rate or strain in both genotypes. Collagen undulation varied through the depth of the subepithelium but not between genotypes. These findings suggest that the creep response to loading may vary with biological processes and pathologies, therefore, evaluating vaginal creep under various circumferential loads may be important to understand vaginal function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeffrey A McGuire
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, 330 A Kelly Hall, 325 Stanger Street, Blacksburg, VA 24061
| | - Laurephile Desrosiers
- Department of Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery, University of Queensland Ochsner Clinical School, 1514 Jefferson Highway, New Orleans, LA 70121
| | - Leise R Knoepp
- Department of Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery, University of Queensland Ochsner Clinical School, 1514 Jefferson Highway, New Orleans, LA 70121
| | - Raffaella De Vita
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, 330 A Kelly Hall, 325 Stanger Street, Blacksburg, VA 24061
| | - Kristin S Miller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University, 6823 St Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Hopper SE, Cuomo F, Ferruzzi J, Burris NS, Roccabianca S, Humphrey JD, Figueroa CA. Comparative Study of Human and Murine Aortic Biomechanics and Hemodynamics in Vascular Aging. Front Physiol 2021; 12:746796. [PMID: 34759837 PMCID: PMC8573132 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.746796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Aging has many effects on the cardiovascular system, including changes in structure (aortic composition, and thus stiffening) and function (increased proximal blood pressure, and thus cardiac afterload). Mouse models are often used to gain insight into vascular aging and mechanisms of disease as they allow invasive assessments that are impractical in humans. Translation of results from murine models to humans can be limited, however, due to species-specific anatomical, biomechanical, and hemodynamic differences. In this study, we built fluid-solid-interaction (FSI) models of the aorta, informed by biomechanical and imaging data, to compare wall mechanics and hemodynamics in humans and mice at two equivalent ages: young and older adults. Methods: For the humans, 3-D computational models were created using wall property data from the literature as well as patient-specific magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and non-invasive hemodynamic data; for the mice, comparable models were created using population-based properties and hemodynamics as well as subject-specific anatomies. Global aortic hemodynamics and wall stiffness were compared between humans and mice across age groups. Results: For young adult subjects, we found differences between species in pulse pressure amplification, compliance and resistance distribution, and aortic stiffness gradient. We also found differences in response to aging between species. Generally, the human spatial gradients of stiffness and pulse pressure across the aorta diminished with age, while they increased for the mice. Conclusion: These results highlight key differences in vascular aging between human and mice, and it is important to acknowledge these when using mouse models for cardiovascular research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara E. Hopper
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Federica Cuomo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Jacopo Ferruzzi
- Department of Bioengineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Nicholas S. Burris
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Sara Roccabianca
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Jay D. Humphrey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - C. Alberto Figueroa
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Mechanobiology of the arterial tissue from the aortic root to the diaphragm. Med Eng Phys 2021; 96:64-70. [PMID: 34565554 DOI: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2021.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Arterial tissue microstructure and its mechanical properties directly correlate with cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and aneurysm. Experienced hemodynamic loads are the primary factor of arterial tissue remodeling. By virtue of altering hemodynamic loads along the arterial tree, respective structure-function relations will be region-dependent. Since, there is limited experimental evidence on these structure-function homeostases, the current study, aims to report microstructural and mechanical alterations along the aorta from the aortic root up to the diaphragm, where intense hemodynamic alterations take place. The ascending, arch, and descending parts of the same cadaveric aortas were investigated by histomechanical examinations. Anatomical landmarks were labeled on the specimens, and then biaxial tensile tests were conducted on samples from each region. Furthermore, area fractions of elastin and collagen were measured on stained sections of the tissue. Also, a fragmentation index of elastin tissue is proposed for quantitative measurement of ECM integrity, which correlates with the nature of experienced hemodynamic loads. For the ascending aorta and the aortic arch, different values for mechanical properties and fragmentation index are observed even in a specific cross-section of the artery. It is primarily due to the complex loading regimes and curved geometry. Conversely, microstructural and mechanical features along the descending aorta exhibited minimal variations, and hence, smooth blood flow and pressure waves are expected in this region, which is well-documented in the literature. Both of the microstructural and mechanical features of the aorta vary along the arterial tree depending on the hemodynamic and geometric complexities they incur and may shed light on the initiation of cardiovascular diseases.
Collapse
|
9
|
Feng Y, Wang X, Zhao Y, Li L, Niu P, Huang Y, Han Y, Tan W, Huo Y. A comparison of passive and active wall mechanics between elastic and muscular arteries of juvenile and adult rats. J Biomech 2021; 126:110642. [PMID: 34325121 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2021.110642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The elastic abdominal aorta and muscular femoral artery are susceptible to aneurysm and atherosclerosis, respectively. The vessel wall mechanics should be an important element for the difference. The objective of the study is to demonstrate a comparison of vessel wall mechanics between elastic and muscular arteries of juvenile and adult rats to show the changes of mechanical properties relevant to aging. The passive and active mechanical tests, theoretical analysis, and histological evaluation were carried out to investigate mechanical properties of vessel walls in the abdominal aorta and carotid and femoral arteries of young and adult rats. There are stiffening femoral artery, unchanged carotid artery, and distensible abdominal aorta in adult rats as compared with the young. The opening angle has values of 54 ± 13°, 82 ± 13°, and 94 ± 13° in the abdominal aorta and carotid and femoral arteries of adult rats, respectively, as well as 80 ± 22°, 93 ± 19°, and 100 ± 23° in the young. The findings are explained by the significantly reduced width of collagen fibers in the abdominal aorta, relatively unchanged width in the carotid artery, and significantly increased width in the femoral artery of adult rats as compared with the young. In conjunction with available literatures, we concluded that inconsistency for nonlinear age-related changes of artery wall mechanics occurs between arteries of different types, which may be a risk factor for the occurrence of abdominal aorta aneurysm and femoral artery atherosclerosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yundi Feng
- PKU-HKUST Shenzhen-Hongkong Institution, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xuan Wang
- Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yiyang Zhao
- Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Pei Niu
- PKU-HKUST Shenzhen-Hongkong Institution, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yufan Huang
- College of Medicine, Hebei University, Baoding, China
| | - Yue Han
- Institute of Mechanobiology & Medical Engineering, School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Wenchang Tan
- PKU-HKUST Shenzhen-Hongkong Institution, Shenzhen, China; Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yunlong Huo
- Institute of Mechanobiology & Medical Engineering, School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ogola BO, Clark GL, Abshire CM, Harris NR, Gentry KL, Gunda SS, Kilanowski-Doroh I, Wong TJ, Visniauskas B, Lawrence DJ, Zimmerman MA, Bayer CL, Groban L, Miller KS, Lindsey SH. Sex and the G Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor Impact Vascular Stiffness. Hypertension 2021; 78:e1-e14. [PMID: 34024124 PMCID: PMC8192475 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.120.16915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benard O. Ogola
- Tulane University, Department of Pharmacology, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Gabrielle L. Clark
- Tulane University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Caleb M. Abshire
- Tulane University, Department of Pharmacology, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | | | - Kaylee L. Gentry
- Tulane University, Department of Pharmacology, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Shreya S. Gunda
- Tulane University, Department of Pharmacology, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | | | - Tristen J. Wong
- Tulane University, Department of Pharmacology, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | | | - Dylan J. Lawrence
- Tulane University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | | | - Carolyn L. Bayer
- Tulane University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Leanne Groban
- Department of Anesthesiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Kristin S. Miller
- Tulane University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Sarah H. Lindsey
- Tulane University, Department of Pharmacology, New Orleans, LA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Quaglino D, Boraldi F, Lofaro FD. The biology of vascular calcification. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 354:261-353. [PMID: 32475476 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2020.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Vascular calcification (VC), characterized by different mineral deposits (i.e., carbonate apatite, whitlockite and hydroxyapatite) accumulating in blood vessels and valves, represents a relevant pathological process for the aging population and a life-threatening complication in acquired and in genetic diseases. Similarly to bone remodeling, VC is an actively regulated process in which many cells and molecules play a pivotal role. This review aims at: (i) describing the role of resident and circulating cells, of the extracellular environment and of positive and negative factors in driving the mineralization process; (ii) detailing the types of VC (i.e., intimal, medial and cardiac valve calcification); (iii) analyzing rare genetic diseases underlining the importance of altered pyrophosphate-dependent regulatory mechanisms; (iv) providing therapeutic options and perspectives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Quaglino
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
| | - Federica Boraldi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Fujie S, Hasegawa N, Sanada K, Hamaoka T, Maeda S, Padilla J, Martinez-Lemus LA, Iemitsu M. Increased serum salusin-α by aerobic exercise training correlates with improvements in arterial stiffness in middle-aged and older adults. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:1201-1212. [PMID: 31918410 PMCID: PMC7053613 DOI: 10.18632/aging.102678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/25/2019] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
Aging causes arterial stiffening which can be mitigated by increased physical activity. Although low circulating levels of salusin-α are associated with cardiovascular disease, whether salusin-α decreases with aging and whether the reduced arterial stiffening occurring with exercise training is associated with increased serum salusin-α is unknown. Herein we assessed carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures in a cross-sectional study that compared young (20-39-year-old, n=45) versus middle-aged and older (40-80-year-old, n=60) subjects. We also performed an interventional study in which 36 young and 40 middle-aged and older subjects underwent eight weeks of aerobic exercise training. In the cross-sectional study, serum salusin-α levels were lesser in middle-aged and older subjects compared to young individuals and negatively correlated with age, SBP, DBP, or cfPWV. In the interventional study, exercise training increased serum salusin-α in middle-aged and older subjects. Notably, negative correlations were noted between the exercise training-induced changes in serum salusin-α and cfPWV, SBP and DBP. Results indicate that advanced age associates with low circulating salusin-α, the levels of which can be augmented by exercise training. Importantly, increased serum salusin-α with exercise correlates with improvements in arterial stiffness and a reduction in blood pressure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shumpei Fujie
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
- Research Fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Natsuki Hasegawa
- Research Organization of Science and Technology, Ritsumeikan University, Shiga, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Sanada
- Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Shiga, Japan
| | - Takafumi Hamaoka
- Sports Medicine for Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Seiji Maeda
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Jaume Padilla
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
| | - Luis A. Martinez-Lemus
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Motoyuki Iemitsu
- Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Shiga, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Tomášek P, Tonar Z, Grajciarová M, Kural T, Turek D, Horáková J, Pálek R, Eberlová L, Králíčková M, Liška V. Histological mapping of porcine carotid arteries - An animal model for the assessment of artificial conduits suitable for coronary bypass grafting in humans. Ann Anat 2019; 228:151434. [PMID: 31704146 DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2019.151434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Revised: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Using animal models in experimental medicine requires mapping of their anatomical variability. Porcine common carotid arteries (CCA) are often preferred for the preclinical testing of vascular grafts due to their anatomical and physiological similarity to human small-diameter arteries. Comparing the microscopic structure of animal model organs to their human counterparts reveals the benefits and limitations of translational medicine. METHODS Using quantitative histology and stereology, we performed an extensive mapping of the regional proximodistal differences in the fractions of elastin, collagen, and smooth muscle actin as well as the intima-media and wall thicknesses among 404 segments (every 1 cm) of porcine CCAs collected from male and female pigs (n = 21). We also compared the microscopic structure of porcine CCAs with segments of human coronary arteries and one of the preferred arterial conduits used for the coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), namely, the internal thoracic artery (ITA) (n = 21 human cadavers). RESULTS The results showed that the histological structure of left and right porcine CCA can be considered equivalent, provided that gross anatomical variations of the regular branching patterns are excluded. The proximal elastic carotid (51.2% elastin, 4.2% collagen, and 37.2% actin) transitioned to more muscular middle segments (23.5% elastin, 4.9% collagen, 54.3% actin) at the range of 2-3 centimeters and then to even more muscular distal segments (17.2% elastin, 4.9% collagen, 64.0% actin). The resulting morphometric data set shows the biological variability of the artery and is made available for biomechanical modeling and for performing a power analysis and calculating the minimum number of samples per group when planning further experiments with this widely used large animal model. CONCLUSIONS Comparison of porcine carotids with human coronary arteries and ITA revealed the benefits and the limitations of using porcine CCAs as a valid model for testing bioengineered small-diameter CABG vascular conduits. Morphometry of human coronary arteries and ITA provided more realistic data for tailoring multilayered artificial vascular prostheses and the ranges of values within which the conduits should be tested in the future. Despite their limitations, porcine CCAs remain a widely used and well-characterized large animal model that is available for a variety of experiments in vascular surgery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Petr Tomášek
- Department of Histology and Embryology and Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Karlovarska 48, 301 66 Pilsen, Czech Republic; Department of Forensic Medicine, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Na Bulovce Hospital, Budinova 2, 180 81 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Zbyněk Tonar
- Department of Histology and Embryology and Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Karlovarska 48, 301 66 Pilsen, Czech Republic.
| | - Martina Grajciarová
- Department of Histology and Embryology and Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Karlovarska 48, 301 66 Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Kural
- Department of Histology and Embryology and Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Karlovarska 48, 301 66 Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Turek
- First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Katerinska 32, 121 08 Prague 2, Czech Republic; Department of Cardiac Surgery, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Videnska 1958/9, 140 21 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Horáková
- Department of Nonwovens and Nanofibrous Materials, Faculty of Textile Engineering, Technical University of Liberec, Studentska 2, 461 17 Liberec, Czech Republic
| | - Richard Pálek
- Department of Surgery and Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Husova 3, 306 05 Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Lada Eberlová
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Karlovarska 48, 301 66 Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Milena Králíčková
- Department of Histology and Embryology and Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Karlovarska 48, 301 66 Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Václav Liška
- Department of Surgery and Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Husova 3, 306 05 Pilsen, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Fhayli W, Boëté Q, Harki O, Briançon-Marjollet A, Jacob MP, Faury G. Rise and fall of elastic fibers from development to aging. Consequences on arterial structure-function and therapeutical perspectives. Matrix Biol 2019; 84:41-56. [PMID: 31493460 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2019.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Revised: 08/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In the arteries of vertebrates, evolution has given rise to resilient macromolecular structures, elastin and elastic fibers, capable of sustaining an elevated blood pressure and smoothening the discontinuous blood flow and pressure generated by the heart. Elastic fibers are produced only during development and childhood, before being progressively degraded by mechanical stress and enzymatic activities during adulthood and aging. During this period, arterial elastic fiber calcification and loading of lipids also occur, all of these events conducting to arteriosclerosis. This leads to a progressive dysfunction of the large elastic arteries inducing elevated blood pressure as well as altered hemodynamics and organ perfusion, which induce more global malfunctions of the body during normal aging. Additionally, some arterial conditions occur more frequently with advancing age, such as atherosclerosis or aneurysms, which are called age-related diseases or pathological aging. The physiological or pathological degradation of elastic fibers and function of elastic arteries seemed to be rather inevitable over time. However, during the recent years, different molecules - including several ATP-dependent potassium channel openers, such as minoxidil - have been shown to re-induce elastin production and elastic fiber assembly, leading to improvements in the arterial structure and function or in organ perfusion. This review summarizes the changes in the arterial elastic fibers and structure from development until aging, and presents some of the potential pharmacotherapies leading to elastic fiber neosynthesis and arterial function improvement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wassim Fhayli
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U1042, CHU Grenoble Alpes, HP2, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Quentin Boëté
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U1042, CHU Grenoble Alpes, HP2, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Olfa Harki
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U1042, CHU Grenoble Alpes, HP2, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | | | - Marie-Paule Jacob
- INSERM, U1148, and Hopital Bichat-Claude Bernard, 46 rue Henri Huchard, 75877 Paris, France
| | - Gilles Faury
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U1042, CHU Grenoble Alpes, HP2, 38000 Grenoble, France.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Chaqour B. Caught between a "Rho" and a hard place: are CCN1/CYR61 and CCN2/CTGF the arbiters of microvascular stiffness? J Cell Commun Signal 2019; 14:21-29. [PMID: 31376071 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-019-00529-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a deformable dynamic structure that dictates the behavior, function and integrity of blood vessels. The composition, density, chemistry and architecture of major globular and fibrillar proteins of the matrisome regulate the mechanical properties of the vasculature (i.e., stiffness/compliance). ECM proteins are linked via integrins to a protein adhesome directly connected to the actin cytoskeleton and various downstream signaling pathways that enable the cells to respond to external stimuli in a coordinated manner and maintain optimal tissue stiffness. However, cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, ischemia and aging compromise the mechanical balance of the vascular wall. Stiffening of large blood vessels is associated with well-known qualitative and quantitative changes of fibrillar and fibrous macromolecules of the vascular matrisome. However, the mechanical properties of the thin-walled microvasculature are essentially defined by components of the subendothelial matrix. Cellular communication network (CCN) 1 and 2 proteins (aka Cyr61 and CTGF, respectively) of the CCN protein family localize in and act on the pericellular matrix of microvessels and constitute primary candidate markers and regulators of microvascular compliance. CCN1 and CCN2 bind various integrin and non-integrin receptors and initiate signaling pathways that regulate connective tissue remodeling and response to injury, the associated mechanoresponse of vascular cells, and the subsequent inflammatory response. The CCN1 and CCN2 genes are themselves responsive to mechanical stimuli in vascular cells, wherein mechanotransduction signaling converges into the common Rho GTPase pathway, which promotes actomyosin-based contractility and cellular stiffening. However, CCN1 and CCN2 each exhibit unique functional attributes in these processes. A better understanding of their synergistic or antagonistic effects on the maintenance (or loss) of microvascular compliance in physiological and pathological situations will assist more broadly based studies of their functional properties and translational value.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brahim Chaqour
- Department of Cell Biology and Department of Ophthalmology, State University of New York - SUNY Downstate Medical Center, 450 Clarkson Avenue, MSC 5, Brooklyn, NY, 11203, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Gabriela Espinosa M, Catalin Staiculescu M, Kim J, Marin E, Wagenseil JE. Elastic Fibers and Large Artery Mechanics in Animal Models of Development and Disease. J Biomech Eng 2019; 140:2666245. [PMID: 29222533 DOI: 10.1115/1.4038704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Development of a closed circulatory system requires that large arteries adapt to the mechanical demands of high, pulsatile pressure. Elastin and collagen uniquely address these design criteria in the low and high stress regimes, resulting in a nonlinear mechanical response. Elastin is the core component of elastic fibers, which provide the artery wall with energy storage and recoil. The integrity of the elastic fiber network is affected by component insufficiency or disorganization, leading to an array of vascular pathologies and compromised mechanical behavior. In this review, we discuss how elastic fibers are formed and how they adapt in development and disease. We discuss elastic fiber contributions to arterial mechanical behavior and remodeling. We primarily present data from mouse models with elastic fiber deficiencies, but suggest that alternate small animal models may have unique experimental advantages and the potential to provide new insights. Advanced ultrastructural and biomechanical data are constantly being used to update computational models of arterial mechanics. We discuss the progression from early phenomenological models to microstructurally motivated strain energy functions for both collagen and elastic fiber networks. Although many current models individually account for arterial adaptation, complex geometries, and fluid-solid interactions (FSIs), future models will need to include an even greater number of factors and interactions in the complex system. Among these factors, we identify the need to revisit the role of time dependence and axial growth and remodeling in large artery mechanics, especially in cardiovascular diseases that affect the mechanical integrity of the elastic fibers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jungsil Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130
| | - Eric Marin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63103
| | - Jessica E Wagenseil
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University, , St. Louis, MO 63130 e-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Brankovic S, Hawthorne EA, Yu X, Zhang Y, Assoian RK. MMP12 preferentially attenuates axial stiffening of aging arteries. J Biomech Eng 2019; 141:2729818. [PMID: 30917195 DOI: 10.1115/1.4043322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Arterial stiffening is a hallmark of aging, but how aging affects the arterial response to pressure is still not completely understood, especially with regard to specific matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Here, we used pressure myography of carotid arteries from C57BL/6 mice to study the effects of age and MMP12, a major arterial elastase, on arterial biomechanics. Aging from 2 to 24 months leads to both circumferential and axial stiffening with stretch, and these changes are associated with an increased wall thickness, decreased inner radius, and a decreased in vivo axial stretch ratio (IVSR). Analysis of IVSR and stress-stretch curves with arteries from age- and sex-matched wild-type and MMP12-null arteries demonstrate that MMP12 deletion attenuates age-dependent arterial stiffening, mostly in the axial direction. MMP12 deletion also prevents the aging-associated decrease in the in vivo stretch ratio and, in general, leads to an axial mechanics phenotype characteristic of much younger mice. Circumferential arterial mechanics were much less affected by deletion of MMP12. We conclude that the induction of MMP12 during aging preferentially controls axial arterial mechanics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Brankovic
- Center for Engineering MechanoBiology and the Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Elizabeth A Hawthorne
- Center for Engineering MechanoBiology and the Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Xunjie Yu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, Boston MA 02215
| | - Yanhang Zhang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, Boston MA 02215
| | - Richard K Assoian
- Center for Engineering MechanoBiology and the Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Reesink KD, Spronck B. Constitutive interpretation of arterial stiffness in clinical studies: a methodological review. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2019; 316:H693-H709. [DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00388.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Clinical assessment of arterial stiffness relies on noninvasive measurements of regional pulse wave velocity or local distensibility. However, arterial stiffness measures do not discriminate underlying changes in arterial wall constituent properties (e.g., in collagen, elastin, or smooth muscle), which is highly relevant for development and monitoring of treatment. In arterial stiffness in recent clinical-epidemiological studies, we systematically review clinical-epidemiological studies (2012–) that interpreted arterial stiffness changes in terms of changes in arterial wall constituent properties (63 studies included of 514 studies found). Most studies that did so were association studies (52 of 63 studies) providing limited causal evidence. Intervention studies (11 of 63 studies) addressed changes in arterial stiffness through the modulation of extracellular matrix integrity (5 of 11 studies) or smooth muscle tone (6 of 11 studies). A handful of studies (3 of 63 studies) used mathematical modeling to discriminate between extracellular matrix components. Overall, there exists a notable gap in the mechanistic interpretation of stiffness findings. In constitutive model-based interpretation, we first introduce constitutive-based modeling and use it to illustrate the relationship between constituent properties and stiffness measurements (“forward” approach). We then review all literature on modeling approaches for the constitutive interpretation of clinical arterial stiffness data (“inverse” approach), which are aimed at estimation of constitutive properties from arterial stiffness measurements to benefit treatment development and monitoring. Importantly, any modeling approach requires a tradeoff between model complexity and measurable data. Therefore, the feasibility of changing in vivo the biaxial mechanics and/or vascular smooth muscle tone should be explored. The effectiveness of modeling approaches should be confirmed using uncertainty quantification and sensitivity analysis. Taken together, constitutive modeling can significantly improve clinical interpretation of arterial stiffness findings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Koen D. Reesink
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Bart Spronck
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Xianghong LMD, Jianhui ZMD, Sihui SMD, Min YMD, Rong WMD, Lianfang DMD, Zhaojun LMD. The Role of Ultrasound Shear Wave Dispersion Imaging in Evaluating Carotid Viscoelasticity: A Preliminary Study. ADVANCED ULTRASOUND IN DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY 2019. [DOI: 10.37015/audt.2019.190816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
|
20
|
Cuomo F, Ferruzzi J, Agarwal P, Li C, Zhuang ZW, Humphrey JD, Figueroa CA. Sex-dependent differences in central artery haemodynamics in normal and fibulin-5 deficient mice: implications for ageing. Proc Math Phys Eng Sci 2019; 475:20180076. [PMID: 30760948 PMCID: PMC6364598 DOI: 10.1098/rspa.2018.0076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mouse models provide unique opportunities to study vascular disease, but they demand increased experimental and computational resolution. We describe a workflow for combining in vivo and in vitro biomechanical data to build mouse-specific computational models of the central vasculature including regional variations in biaxial wall stiffness, thickness and perivascular support. These fluid-solid interaction models are informed by micro-computed tomography imaging and in vivo ultrasound and pressure measurements, and include mouse-specific inflow and outflow boundary conditions. Hence, the model can capture three-dimensional unsteady flows and pulse wave characteristics. The utility of this experimental-computational approach is illustrated by comparing central artery biomechanics in adult wild-type and fibulin-5 deficient mice, a model of early vascular ageing. Findings are also examined as a function of sex. Computational results compare well with measurements and data available in the literature and suggest that pulse wave velocity, a spatially integrated measure of arterial stiffness, does not reflect well the presence of regional differences in stiffening, particularly those manifested in male versus female mice. Modelling results are also useful for comparing quantities that are difficult to measure or infer experimentally, including local pulse pressures at the renal arteries and characteristics of the peripheral vascular bed that may differ with disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Federica Cuomo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jacopo Ferruzzi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Pradyumn Agarwal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Chen Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Zhen W. Zhuang
- Translational Research Imaging Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jay D. Humphrey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - C. Alberto Figueroa
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
van Kelle MAJ, Oomen PJA, Janssen-van den Broek WJT, Lopata RGP, Loerakker S, Bouten CVC. Initial scaffold thickness affects the emergence of a geometrical and mechanical equilibrium in engineered cardiovascular tissues. J R Soc Interface 2018; 15:rsif.2018.0359. [PMID: 30429259 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2018.0359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In situ cardiovascular tissue-engineering can potentially address the shortcomings of the current replacement therapies, in particular, their inability to grow and remodel. In native tissues, it is widely accepted that physiological growth and remodelling occur to maintain a homeostatic mechanical state to conserve its function, regardless of changes in the mechanical environment. A similar homeostatic state should be reached for tissue-engineered (TE) prostheses to ensure proper functioning. For in situ tissue-engineering approaches obtaining such a state greatly relies on the initial scaffold design parameters. In this study, it is investigated if the simple scaffold design parameter initial thickness, influences the emergence of a mechanical and geometrical equilibrium state in in vitro TE constructs, which resemble thin cardiovascular tissues such as heart valves and arteries. Towards this end, two sample groups with different initial thicknesses of myofibroblast-seeded polycaprolactone-bisurea constructs were cultured for three weeks under dynamic loading conditions, while tracking geometrical and mechanical changes temporally using non-destructive ultrasound imaging. A mechanical equilibrium was reached in both groups, although at different magnitudes of the investigated mechanical quantities. Interestingly, a geometrically stable state was only established in the thicker constructs, while the thinner constructs' length continuously increased. This demonstrates that reaching geometrical and mechanical stability in TE constructs is highly dependent on functional scaffold design.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M A J van Kelle
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - P J A Oomen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - W J T Janssen-van den Broek
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - R G P Lopata
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - S Loerakker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands .,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - C V C Bouten
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Schaafsma A. A new method for correcting middle cerebral artery flow velocity for age by calculating Z-scores. J Neurosci Methods 2018; 307:1-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2018.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/15/2018] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
|
23
|
Wang M, Monticone RE, McGraw KR. Proinflammatory Arterial Stiffness Syndrome: A Signature of Large Arterial Aging. J Vasc Res 2018; 55:210-223. [PMID: 30071538 PMCID: PMC6174095 DOI: 10.1159/000490244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-associated structural and functional remodeling of the arterial wall produces a productive environment for the initiation and progression of hypertension and atherosclerosis. Chronic aging stress induces low-grade proinflammatory signaling and causes cellular proinflammation in arterial walls, which triggers the structural phenotypic shifts characterized by endothelial dysfunction, diffuse intimal-medial thickening, and arterial stiffening. Microscopically, aged arteries exhibit an increase in arterial cell senescence, proliferation, invasion, matrix deposition, elastin fragmentation, calcification, and amyloidosis. These characteristic cellular and matrix alterations not only develop with aging but can also be induced in young animals under experimental proinflammatory stimulation. Interestingly, these changes can also be attenuated in old animals by reducing low-grade inflammatory signaling. Thus, mitigating age-associated proinflammation and arterial phenotype shifts is a potential approach to retard arterial aging and prevent the epidemic of hypertension and atherosclerosis in the elderly.
Collapse
|
24
|
Ogola BO, Zimmerman MA, Clark GL, Abshire CM, Gentry KM, Miller KS, Lindsey SH. New insights into arterial stiffening: does sex matter? Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2018; 315:H1073-H1087. [PMID: 30028199 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00132.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
This review discusses sexual dimorphism in arterial stiffening, disease pathology interactions, and the influence of sex on mechanisms and pathways. Arterial stiffness predicts cardiovascular mortality independent of blood pressure. Patients with increased arterial stiffness have a 48% higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease. Like other cardiovascular pathologies, arterial stiffness is sexually dimorphic. Young women have lower stiffness than aged-matched men, but this sex difference reverses during normal aging. Estrogen therapy does not attenuate progressive stiffening in postmenopausal women, indicating that currently prescribed drugs do not confer protection. Although remodeling of large arteries is a protective adaptation to higher wall stress, arterial stiffening increases afterload to the left ventricle and transmits higher pulsatile pressure to smaller arteries and target organs. Moreover, an increase in aortic stiffness may precede or exacerbate hypertension, particularly during aging. Additional studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms by which females are protected from arterial stiffness to provide insight into its mechanisms and, ultimately, therapeutic targets for treating this pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benard O Ogola
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University , New Orleans, Louisiana
| | | | - Gabrielle L Clark
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University , New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Caleb M Abshire
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University , New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Kaylee M Gentry
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University , New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Kristin S Miller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University , New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Sarah H Lindsey
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University , New Orleans, Louisiana
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Bersi MR, Khosravi R, Wujciak AJ, Harrison DG, Humphrey JD. Differential cell-matrix mechanoadaptations and inflammation drive regional propensities to aortic fibrosis, aneurysm or dissection in hypertension. J R Soc Interface 2018; 14:rsif.2017.0327. [PMID: 29118111 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2017.0327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The embryonic lineage of intramural cells, microstructural organization of the extracellular matrix, local luminal and wall geometry, and haemodynamic loads vary along the length of the aorta. Yet, it remains unclear why certain diseases manifest differentially along the aorta. Toward this end, myriad animal models provide insight into diverse disease conditions-including fibrosis, aneurysm and dissection-but inherent differences across models impede general interpretations. We examined region-specific cellular, matrix, and biomechanical changes in a single experimental model of hypertension and atherosclerosis, which commonly coexist. Our findings suggest that (i) intramural cells within the ascending aorta are unable to maintain the intrinsic material stiffness of the wall, which ultimately drives aneurysmal dilatation, (ii) a mechanical stress-initiated, inflammation-driven remodelling within the descending aorta results in excessive fibrosis, and (iii) a transient loss of adventitial collagen within the suprarenal aorta contributes to dissection propensity. Smooth muscle contractility helps to control wall stress in the infrarenal aorta, which maintains mechanical properties near homeostatic levels despite elevated blood pressure. This early mechanoadaptation of the infrarenal aorta does not preclude subsequent acceleration of neointimal formation, however. Because region-specific conditions may be interdependent, as, for example, diffuse central arterial stiffening can increase cyclic haemodynamic loads on an aneurysm that is developing proximally, there is a clear need for more systematic assessments of aortic disease progression, not simply a singular focus on a particular region or condition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M R Bersi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - R Khosravi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - A J Wujciak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - D G Harrison
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - J D Humphrey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA .,Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Compromised mechanical homeostasis in arterial aging and associated cardiovascular consequences. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2018; 17:1281-1295. [PMID: 29754316 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-018-1026-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Aging leads to central artery stiffening and associated hemodynamic sequelae. Because healthy arteries exhibit differential geometry, composition, and mechanical behaviors along the central vasculature, we sought to determine whether wall structure and mechanical function differ across five vascular regions-the ascending and descending thoracic aorta, suprarenal and infrarenal abdominal aorta, and common carotid artery-in 20 versus 100-week-old male wild-type mice. Notwithstanding generally consistent changes across these regions, including a marked thickening of the arterial wall, diminished in vivo axial stretch, and loss of elastic energy storage capacity, the degree of changes tended to be slightly greater in abdominal than in thoracic or carotid vessels. Likely due to the long half-life of vascular elastin, most mechanical changes in the arterial wall resulted largely from a distributed increase in collagen, including thicker fibers in the media, and localized increases in glycosaminoglycans. Changes within the central arteries associated with significant increases in central pulse pressure and adverse changes in the left ventricle, including increased cardiac mass and decreased diastolic function. Given the similar half-life of vascular elastin in mice and humans but very different life-spans, there are important differences in the aging of central vessels across these species. Nevertheless, the common finding of aberrant matrix remodeling contributing to a compromised mechanical homeostasis suggests that studies of central artery aging in the mouse can provide insight into mechanisms and treatment strategies for the many adverse effects of vascular aging in humans.
Collapse
|
27
|
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Although the roles of oxidant stress and redox perturbations in hypertension have been the subject of several reviews, role of thioredoxin (Trx), a major cellular redox protein in age-related hypertension remains inadequately reviewed. The purpose of this review is to bring readers up-to-date with current understanding of the role of thioredoxin in age-related hypertension. RECENT FINDINGS Age-related hypertension is a major underlying cause of several cardiovascular disorders, and therefore, intensive management of blood pressure is indicated in most patients with cardiovascular complications. Recent studies have shown that age-related hypertension was reversed and remained lowered for a prolonged period in mice with higher levels of human Trx (Trx-Tg). Additionally, injection of human recombinant Trx (rhTrx) decreased hypertension in aged wild-type mice that lasted for several days. Both Trx-Tg and aged wild-type mice injected with rhTrx were normotensive, showed increased NO production, decreased arterial stiffness, and increased vascular relaxation. These studies suggest that rhTrx could potentially be a therapeutic molecule to reverse age-related hypertension in humans. The reversal of age-related hypertension by restoring proteins that have undergone age-related modification is conceptually novel in the treatment of hypertension. Trx reverses age-related hypertension via maintaining vascular redox homeostasis, regenerating critical vasoregulatory proteins oxidized due to advancing age, and restoring native function of proteins that have undergone age-related modifications with loss-of function. Recent studies demonstrate that Trx is a promising molecule that may ameliorate or reverse age-related hypertension in older adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kumuda C Das
- Department of Translational and Vascular Biology, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Tyler, 11937 US Hwy 271, Tyler, TX, 75708, USA.
| | - Venkatesh Kundumani-Sridharan
- Department of Translational and Vascular Biology, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Tyler, 11937 US Hwy 271, Tyler, TX, 75708, USA
| | - Jaganathan Subramani
- Department of Translational and Vascular Biology, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Tyler, 11937 US Hwy 271, Tyler, TX, 75708, USA
| |
Collapse
|