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van Asten JGM, Latorre M, Karakaya C, Baaijens FPT, Sahlgren CM, Ristori T, Humphrey JD, Loerakker S. A multiscale computational model of arterial growth and remodeling including Notch signaling. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2023; 22:1569-1588. [PMID: 37024602 PMCID: PMC10511605 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-023-01697-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Blood vessels grow and remodel in response to mechanical stimuli. Many computational models capture this process phenomenologically, by assuming stress homeostasis, but this approach cannot unravel the underlying cellular mechanisms. Mechano-sensitive Notch signaling is well-known to be key in vascular development and homeostasis. Here, we present a multiscale framework coupling a constrained mixture model, capturing the mechanics and turnover of arterial constituents, to a cell-cell signaling model, describing Notch signaling dynamics among vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) as influenced by mechanical stimuli. Tissue turnover was regulated by both Notch activity, informed by in vitro data, and a phenomenological contribution, accounting for mechanisms other than Notch. This novel framework predicted changes in wall thickness and arterial composition in response to hypertension similar to previous in vivo data. The simulations suggested that Notch contributes to arterial growth in hypertension mainly by promoting SMC proliferation, while other mechanisms are needed to fully capture remodeling. The results also indicated that interventions to Notch, such as external Jagged ligands, can alter both the geometry and composition of hypertensive vessels, especially in the short term. Overall, our model enables a deeper analysis of the role of Notch and Notch interventions in arterial growth and remodeling and could be adopted to investigate therapeutic strategies and optimize vascular regeneration protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordy G M van Asten
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Marcos Latorre
- Center for Research and Innovation in Bioengineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, València, Spain
| | - Cansu Karakaya
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Frank P T Baaijens
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Cecilia M Sahlgren
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Biosciences, Åbo Akademi, Turku, Finland
| | - Tommaso Ristori
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Jay D Humphrey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sandra Loerakker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
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van Asten JGM, Ristori T, Nolan DR, Lally C, Baaijens FPT, Sahlgren CM, Loerakker S. Computational analysis of the role of mechanosensitive Notch signaling in arterial adaptation to hypertension. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2022; 133:105325. [PMID: 35839633 PMCID: PMC7613661 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2022.105325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Arteries grow and remodel in response to mechanical stimuli. Hypertension, for example, results in arterial wall thickening. Cell-cell Notch signaling between vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is known to be involved in this process, but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Here, we investigated whether Notch mechanosensitivity to strain may regulate arterial thickening in hypertension. We developed a multiscale computational framework by coupling a finite element model of arterial mechanics, including residual stress, to an agent-based model of mechanosensitive Notch signaling, to predict VSMC phenotypes as an indicator of growth and remodeling. Our simulations revealed that the sensitivity of Notch to strain at mean blood pressure may be a key mediator of arterial thickening in hypertensive arteries. Further simulations showed that loss of residual stress can have synergistic effects with hypertension, and that changes in the expression of Notch receptors, but not Jagged ligands, may be used to control arterial growth and remodeling and to intensify or counteract hypertensive thickening. Overall, we identify Notch mechanosensitivity as a potential mediator of vascular adaptation, and we present a computational framework that can facilitate the testing of new therapeutic and regenerative strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordy G M van Asten
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Tommaso Ristori
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - David R Nolan
- School of Engineering and Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Caitríona Lally
- School of Engineering and Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Frank P T Baaijens
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Cecilia M Sahlgren
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Faculty of Science and Engineering, Biosciences, Åbo Akademi, Turku, Finland
| | - Sandra Loerakker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
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