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Zhao J, Huangfu C, Chang Z, Zhou W, Grainger AT, Liu Z, Shi W. Inflammation and enhanced atherogenesis in the carotid artery with altered blood flow in an atherosclerosis-resistant mouse strain. Physiol Rep 2021; 9:e14829. [PMID: 34110700 PMCID: PMC8191400 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.14829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Ligation of the common carotid artery near its bifurcation in apolipoprotein E-deficient (Apoe-/- ) mice leads to rapid atherosclerosis development, which is affected by genetic backgrounds. BALB/cJ (BALB) mice are resistant to atherosclerosis, developing much smaller aortic lesions than C57BL/6 (B6) mice. In this study, we examined cellular events leading to lesion formation in carotid arteries with or without blood flow restriction of B6 and BALB Apoe-/- mice. Blood flow was obstructed by ligating the left common carotid artery near its bifurcation in one group of mice, and other group received no surgical intervention. Without blood flow interruption, BALB-Apoe-/- mice formed much smaller atherosclerotic lesions than B6-Apoe-/- mice after 12 weeks of Western diet (3,325 ± 1,086 vs. 81,549 ± 9,983 µm2 /section; p = 2.1E-7). Lesions occurred at arterial bifurcations in both strains. When blood flow was obstructed, ligated carotid artery of both strains showed notable lipid deposition, inflammatory cell infiltration, and rapid plaque formation. Neutrophils and macrophages were observed in the arterial wall of BALB mice 3 days after ligation and 1 week after ligation in B6 mice. CD4 T cells were observed in intimal lesions of BALB but not B6 mice. By 4 weeks, both strains developed similar sizes of advanced lesions containing foam cells, smooth muscle cells, and neovessels. Atherosclerosis also occurred in straight regions of the contralateral common carotid artery where MCP-1 was abundantly expressed in the intima of BALB mice. These findings indicate that the disturbed blood flow is more prominent than high fat diet in promoting inflammation and atherosclerosis in hyperlipidemic BALB mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhao
- Departments of Radiology & Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.,Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Chaoji Huangfu
- Departments of Radiology & Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.,Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Western Theater Command, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhihui Chang
- Departments of Radiology & Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.,Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- Departments of Radiology & Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.,Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, China
| | - Andrew T Grainger
- Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Zhaoyu Liu
- Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Weibin Shi
- Departments of Radiology & Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.,Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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Zhao J, Huangfu C, Chang Z, Grainger AT, Liu Z, Shi W. Atherogenesis in the Carotid Artery with and without Interrupted Blood Flow of Two Hyperlipidemic Mouse Strains. J Vasc Res 2019; 56:241-254. [PMID: 31536996 DOI: 10.1159/000502691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries is a common cause of ischemic stroke. We examined atherogenesis in the left carotid artery with and without interrupted blood flow of C57BL/6 (B6) and C3H-Apoe-deficient (Apoe-/-) mouse strains. METHODS Blood flow was interrupted by ligating the common carotid artery near its bifurcation in one group of mice and another group was not interrupted. RESULTS Without interference with blood flow, C3H-Apoe-/- mice developed no atherosclerosis in the carotid artery, while B6-Apoe-/- mice formed advanced atherosclerotic lesions (98,019 ± 10,594 μm2/section) after 12 weeks of a Western diet. When blood flow was interrupted by ligating the common carotid artery near its bifurcation, C3H-Apoe-/- mice showed fatty streak lesions 2 weeks after ligation, and by 4 weeks fibrous lesions had formed, although they were smaller than in B6-Apoe-/- mice. Neutrophil adhesion to endothelium and infiltration in lesions was observed in ligated arteries of both strains. Treatment of B6-Apoe-/- mice with antibody against neutrophils had little effect on lesion size. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate the dramatic influences of genetic backgrounds and blood flow on atherogenesis in the carotid artery of hyperlipidemic mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhao
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.,Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Chaoji Huangfu
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.,Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Western Theater Command, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhihui Chang
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.,Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Andrew T Grainger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Zhaoyu Liu
- Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Weibin Shi
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA, .,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA,
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Cathepsin K Deficiency Prevents the Aggravated Vascular Remodeling Response to Flow Cessation in ApoE-/- Mice. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0162595. [PMID: 27636705 PMCID: PMC5026377 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cathepsin K (catK) is a potent lysosomal cysteine protease involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and inflammatory remodeling responses. Here we have investigated the contribution of catK deficiency on carotid arterial remodeling in response to flow cessation in apoE-/- and wild type (wt) background. Ligation-induced hyperplasia is considerably aggravated in apoE-/- versus wt mice. CatK protein expression was significantly increased in neointimal lesions of apoE-/- compared with wt mice, suggesting a role for catK in intimal hyperplasia under hyperlipidemic conditions. Surprisingly, CatK deficiency completely blunted the augmented hyperplastic response to flow cessation in apoE-/-, whereas vascular remodeling in wt mice was unaffected. As catK deficiency did neither alter lesion collagen content and elastic laminae fragmentation in vivo, we focused on effects of catK on (systemic) inflammatory responses. CatK deficiency significantly reduced circulating CD3 T-cell numbers, but increased the regulatory T cell subset in apoE-/- but not wt mice. Moreover, catK deficiency changed CD11b+Ly6G-Ly6C high monocyte distribution in apoE-/- but not wt mice and tended to favour macrophage M2a polarization. In conclusion, catK deficiency almost completely blunted the increased vascular remodeling response of apoE-/- mice to flow cessation, possibly by correcting hyperlipidemia-associated pro-inflammatory effects on the peripheral immune response.
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The serum protein fetuin-B is involved in the development of acute myocardial infarction. Clin Sci (Lond) 2015; 129:27-38. [DOI: 10.1042/cs20140462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Fetuin-B was one of highly expressed serum proteins in AMI compared with stable angina. This protein affected vascular plaque-stabilizing components in monocytes, macrophages and vascular smooth muscle cells. Fetuin-B may be a possible contributor to AMI.
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Western diet consumption promotes vascular remodeling in non-senescent mice consistent with accelerated senescence, but does not modify vascular morphology in senescent ones. Exp Gerontol 2014; 55:1-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2014.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2013] [Revised: 02/20/2014] [Accepted: 03/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Shin IJ, Shon SM, Schellingerhout D, Park JY, Kim JY, Lee SK, Lee DK, Lee HW, Ahn BC, Kim K, Kwon IC, Kim DE. Characterization of partial ligation-induced carotid atherosclerosis model using dual-modality molecular imaging in ApoE knock-out mice. PLoS One 2013; 8:e73451. [PMID: 24069197 PMCID: PMC3772018 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2013] [Accepted: 07/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Recently, partial ligation of the common carotid artery (CCA) was reported to induce carotid atheromata rapidly in apolipoprotein-E knockout (ApoE-/-) mice. We investigated this new atherosclerosis model by using combined matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP) near-infrared fluorescent (NIRF) imaging and macrophage-tracking luciferase imaging. Methodology and Principal Findings Partial ligation of the left CCA was performed in 10-week-old ApoE-/- mice on a high fat diet (n=33); the internal and external carotid arteries and occipital artery were ligated, while the superior thyroid artery was left intact. Two thirds of the animals were treated with either LiCl or atorvastatin. At 1-week, Raw264.7 macrophages modified to express the enhanced firefly-luciferase reporter gene (107 Raw-luc cells) were injected intravenously. At 2-week, NIRF molecular imaging visualized strong MMP-2/9 activity in the ligated area of the left CCA as well as in the aortic arch. Left-to-right ratios of the NIRF signal intensities in the CCA had a decreasing gradient from the highest value in the upper-most ligated area to the lowest value in the lower-most region adjacent to the aortic arch. Luciferase imaging showed that most Raw-luc macrophages were recruited to the ligated area of the CCA rather than to the aortic arch, despite similarly strong MMP-2/9-related NIRF signal intensities in both areas. In addition, LiCl or atorvastatin could reduce MMP-2/9 activity in the aortic arch but not in the ligated area of the CCA. Conclusions/Significance This is the first molecular imaging study to characterize the partial ligation-induced carotid atherosclerosis model. Molecularly divergent types of atherosclerosis were identified: conventional lipogenic atherosclerosis in the aorta vs. flow-related mechanical atherosclerosis in the partially ligated left system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ik Jae Shin
- Molecular Imaging and Neurovascular Research (MINER) Laboratory, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea
| | - Soo-Min Shon
- Molecular Imaging and Neurovascular Research (MINER) Laboratory, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea
| | - Dawid Schellingerhout
- Departments of Radiology and Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jin-Yong Park
- Molecular Imaging and Neurovascular Research (MINER) Laboratory, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea
| | - Jeong-Yeon Kim
- Molecular Imaging and Neurovascular Research (MINER) Laboratory, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea
| | - Su Kyoung Lee
- Molecular Imaging and Neurovascular Research (MINER) Laboratory, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea
| | - Dong Kun Lee
- Laboratory of Genome to Drug Medicine, Joint Center for Biosciences, Incheon, Korea
| | - Ho Won Lee
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Byeong-Cheol Ahn
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Kwangmeyung Kim
- Biomedical Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ick Chan Kwon
- Biomedical Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Korea
| | - Dong-Eog Kim
- Molecular Imaging and Neurovascular Research (MINER) Laboratory, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea
- * E-mail:
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Tao M, Mauro CR, Yu P, Favreau JT, Nguyen B, Gaudette GR, Ozaki CK. A simplified murine intimal hyperplasia model founded on a focal carotid stenosis. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2012; 182:277-87. [PMID: 23159527 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2012.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2012] [Revised: 09/28/2012] [Accepted: 10/02/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Murine models offer a powerful tool for unraveling the mechanisms of intimal hyperplasia and vascular remodeling, although their technical complexity increases experimental variability and limits widespread application. We describe a simple and clinically relevant mouse model of arterial intimal hyperplasia and remodeling. Focal left carotid artery (LCA) stenosis was created by placing 9-0 nylon suture around the artery using an external 35-gauge mandrel needle (middle or distal location), which was then removed. The effect of adjunctive diet-induced obesity was defined. Flowmetry, wall strain analyses, biomicroscopy, and histology were completed. LCA blood flow sharply decreased by ∼85%, followed by a responsive right carotid artery increase of ∼71%. Circumferential strain decreased by ∼2.1% proximal to the stenosis in both dietary groups. At 28 days, morphologic adaptations included proximal LCA intimal hyperplasia, which was exacerbated by diet-induced obesity. The proximal and distal LCA underwent outward and negative inward remodeling, respectively, in the mid-focal stenosis (remodeling indexes, 1.10 and 0.53). A simple, defined common carotid focal stenosis yields reproducible murine intimal hyperplasia and substantial differentials in arterial wall adaptations. This model offers a tool for investigating mechanisms of hemodynamically driven intimal hyperplasia and arterial wall remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Tao
- Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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Muratoglu SC, Belgrave S, Lillis AP, Migliorini M, Robinson S, Smith E, Zhang L, Strickland DK. Macrophage LRP1 suppresses neo-intima formation during vascular remodeling by modulating the TGF-β signaling pathway. PLoS One 2011; 6:e28846. [PMID: 22174911 PMCID: PMC3235159 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0028846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2011] [Accepted: 11/16/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vascular remodeling in response to alterations in blood flow has been shown to modulate the formation of neo-intima. This process results from a proliferative response of vascular smooth muscle cells and is influenced by macrophages, which potentiate the development of the intima. The LDL receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) is a large endocytic and signaling receptor that recognizes a number of ligands including apoE-containing lipoproteins, proteases and protease-inhibitor complexes. Macrophage LRP1 is known to influence the development of atherosclerosis, but its role in vascular remodeling has not been investigated. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS To define the contribution of macrophage LRP1 to vascular remodeling, we generated macrophage specific LRP1-deficient mice (macLRP1-/-) on an LDL receptor (LDLr) knock-out background. Using a carotid ligation model, we detected a 2-fold increase in neointimal thickening and a 2-fold increase in the intima/media ratio in macLRP1-/- mice. Quantitative RT-PCR arrays of the remodeled vessel wall identified increases in mRNA levels of the TGF-β2 gene as well as the Pdgfa gene in macLRP1-/- mice which could account for the alterations in vascular remodeling. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed increased activation of the TGF-β signaling pathway in macLRP1-/- mice. Further, we observed that LRP1 binds TGF-β2 and macrophages lacking LRP1 accumulate twice as much TGF-β2 in conditioned media. Finally, TNF-α modulation of the TGF-β2 gene in macrophages is attenuated when LRP1 is expressed. Together, the data reveal that LRP1 modulates both the expression and protein levels of TGF-β2 in macrophages. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our data demonstrate that macrophage LRP1 protects the vasculature by limiting remodeling events associated with flow. This appears to occur by the ability of macrophage LRP1 to reduce TGF-β2 protein levels and to attenuate expression of the TGF-β2 gene resulting in suppression of the TGF-β signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selen Catania Muratoglu
- Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Shani Belgrave
- Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Anna P. Lillis
- Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Mary Migliorini
- Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Susan Robinson
- Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Smith
- Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Li Zhang
- Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Dudley K. Strickland
- Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Inflammatory cell recruitment in cardiovascular disease: murine models and potential clinical applications. Clin Sci (Lond) 2010; 118:641-55. [PMID: 20210786 DOI: 10.1042/cs20090488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is the pathological process that underlies the development of cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of mortality. Atherosclerotic plaque formation is driven by the recruitment of inflammatory monocytes into the artery wall, their differentiation into macrophages and the subsequent transformation of macrophages into cholesterol-laden foam cells. Models of hypercholesterolaemia such as the ApoE (apolipoprotein E)-/- mouse and the application of transgenic technologies have allowed us to undertake a thorough dissection of the cellular and molecular biology of the atherosclerotic disease process. Murine models have emphasized the central role of inflammation in atherogenesis and have been instrumental in the identification of adhesion molecules that support monocyte recruitment, scavenger receptors that facilitate cholesterol uptake by macrophages and other macrophage activation receptors. The study of mice deficient in multiple members of the chemokine family, and their receptors, has shown that chemokines play a critical role in promoting atherosclerotic plaque formation. In the present review, we will discuss novel therapeutic avenues for the treatment of cardiovascular disease that derive directly from our current understanding of atherogenesis gained in experimental animal models.
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