A Novel Large Animal Model of Thrombogenic Coronary Microembolization

Coronary microembolization is one of the main causes of the “no-reflow” phenomenon, which commonly occurs after reperfusion of an occluded coronary artery. Given its high incidence and the fact that it has been proven to be an independent predictor of cardiac morbidity and mortality, there is an imperative need to study its underlying mechanisms and pathophysiology. Large animal models are essential to perform translational studies. Currently there is no animal model that recapitulates a clinical scenario of thrombogenic microembolism with preceding myocardial ischemia. Therefore, the goal of this study was to develop and characterize a novel pig model of coronary microembolization using autologous thrombus injection (CMET). Twenty-three pigs underwent myocardial infarction through percutaneous balloon occlusion of the left anterior descending artery (LAD). Each animal was enrolled in one of two groups: (1) the CMET group, in which the LAD occlusion was followed by delivery of autologous clotted blood in the LAD (distal to the balloon occlusion) and reperfusion; (2) the ischemic reperfusion (I/R) group, in which the LAD ischemia was followed by reperfusion. Surviving animals underwent functional and morphological characterization at 1-week post-procedure. Three sham operated animals were used as a control. CMET resulted in impaired left ventricular function compared to I/R pigs at 1 week. Three-dimensional echocardiography demonstrated reduced ejection fraction in the CMET group (CMET vs. I/R: 35.6 ± 4.2% vs. 47.6 ± 2.4%, p = 0.028). Invasive hemodynamic measurements by Swan-Ganz and left ventricular pressure-volume catheters revealed that CMET impaired left ventricular contractility and diastolic function. This was confirmed by both load-dependent indices including cardiac output (CMET vs. I/R: 2.7 ± 0.2 l/min, vs. 4.0 ± 0.1 l/min, p = 0.002) and load independent indices including preload-recruitable stroke work (CMET vs. I/R: 25.8 ± 4.0 vs. 47.5 ± 6.5 mmHg, p = 0.05) and end-diastolic pressure-volume relationship (slope, 0.68 ± 0.07 vs. 0.40 ± 0.11 mmHg/ml, p = 0.01). Our unique closed-chest model of coronary microembolization using autologous thrombus injection resembles the clinical condition of thrombogenic coronary microembolization in I/R injury. This model offers opportunities to conduct translational studies for understanding and treating coronary microembolization in myocardial infarction.

Large Animal Models of Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF)

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is defined by an ejection fraction (EF) below 40%. Many distinct disease processes culminate in HFrEF, among them acute and chronic ischemia, pressure overload, volume overload, cytotoxic medication, and arrhythmia. To study these different etiologies the development of accurate animal models is vital. While small animal models are generally cheaper, allow for larger sample sizes and offer a greater variety of transgenic models, they have important limitations in the context of HFrEF research. Small mammals have much higher heart rates and distinct ion channels. They also have much higher basal metabolic rates and their physiology in many ways does not reflect that of humans. The size of their organs also puts practical constraints on experiments. Therefore, large animal models have been developed to accurately simulate human HFrEF. This review aims to give a short overview of the currently established large animal models of HFrEF. The main animal models discussed are dogs, pigs, and sheep. Furthermore, multiple approaches for modeling the different etiologies of HF are discussed, namely models of acute and chronic ischemia, pressure overload, volume overload as well as cytotoxic, and tachycardic pacing approaches.

To develop a novel animal model of myocardial infarction: A research imperative

Although great progress has been made in therapeutic interventions for coronary artery disease (CAD), it is still the deadliest disease in the world. Currently animals that are similar to human beings in their cardiovascular pathophysiology are being used to explore the pathogenesis and therapy of CAD. There have been a series of developments in creating CAD animal models using mice, rats, rabbits, dogs, and pigs, but unfortunately there is still no acceptable model for human CAD. The ideal CAD animal model should satisfy several conditions as follows. First of all, it should have a pathophysiological process for CAD that is similar to humans. Second, it should be useable for assessing drug efficacy. The last and most important condition is that the model can be used to duplicate clinical therapeutic skills. The limitations of current methods for making animal models have meant that these models not only do not duplicate the actual pathogenesis, but also cannot be used to simulate clinical therapy, and do not support scientific evaluation of drug efficacy. Therefore, the development of a fit-for-purpose animal model for CAD is imperative for future research. Such a development will lead to rapid progress and greater efficiency in CAD research. This paper summarizes the present situation in the field of CAD animal models, and puts forwards ideas for developing a novel animal model of myocardial infarction.

Circulating platelet aggregates damage endothelial cells in culture

BACKGROUND

Presence of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) in systemic circulation may be an indicator of endothelial damage and/or denudation, and the body's response to repair and revascularization. Thus, we hypothesized that aggregated platelets (AgPlts) can disrupt/denude the endothelium and contribute to the presence of CEC and EC-derived particles (ECDP).

METHODS

Endothelial cells were grown in glass tubes and tagged with/without 0.5 μm fluorescent beads. These glass tubes were connected to a mini-pump variable-flow system to study the effect of circulating AgPlts on the endothelium. ECs in glass tube were exposed to medium alone, nonaggregated platelets (NAgPlts), AgPlts, and 90 micron polystyrene beads at a flow rate of 20 mL/min for various intervals. Collected effluents were cultured for 72 h to analyze the growth potential of dislodged but intact ECs. Endothelial damage was assessed by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for inflammatory genes and Western blot analysis for von Willebrand factor.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

No ECs and ECDP were observed in effluents collected after injecting medium alone and NAgPlts, whereas AgPlts and Polybeads drastically dislodged ECs, releasing ECs and ECDP in effluents as the time increased. Effluents collected when endothelial cell damage was seen showed increased presence of von Willebrand factor as compared to control effluents. Furthermore, we analyzed the presence of ECs and ECDPs in heart failure subjects, as well as animal plasma samples. Our study demonstrates that circulating AgPlts denude the endothelium and release ECs and ECDP. Direct mechanical disruption and shear stress caused by circulating AgPlts could be the underlying mechanism of the observed endothelium damage.

A nonthoracotomy myocardial infarction model in an ovine using autologous platelets

Objective. There is a paucity of a biological large animal model of myocardial infarction (MI). We hypothesized that, using autologous-aggregated platelets, we could create an ovine model that was reproducible and more closely mimicked the pathophysiology of MI. Methods. Mepacrine stained autologous platelets from male sheep (n = 7) were used to create a myocardial infarction via catheter injection into the mid-left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. Serial daily serum troponin measurements were taken and tissue harvested on post-embolization day three. Immunofluorescence microscopy was used to detect the mepacrine-stained platelet-induced thrombus, and histology performed to identify three distinct myocardial (infarct, peri-ischemic “border zone,” and remote) zones. Results. Serial serum troponin levels (μg/mL) measured 0.0 ± 0.0 at baseline and peaked at 297.4 ± 58.0 on post-embolization day 1, followed by 153.0 ± 38.8 on day 2 and 76.7 ± 19.8 on day 3. Staining confirmed distinct myocardial regions of inflammation and fibrosis as well as mepacrine-stained platelets as the cause of intravascular thrombosis. Conclusion. We report a reproducible, unique model of a biological myocardial infarction in a large animal model. This technique can be used to study acute, regional myocardial changes following a thrombotic injury.

Induction of brain natriuretic peptide and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 gene expression by oxidized low-density lipoprotein: relevance to ischemic heart failure

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) are biomarkers of heart failure (HF). The aim of the present study was to determine the role of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) in the induction of these biomarkers and the signaling pathways involved in vitro. Incubation of HL-1 cardiomyocytes and human myocytes with Ox-LDL induced the expression of BNP and MCP-1 genes, while native LDL had no effect. When peroxides associated with Ox-LDL were reduced to hydroxides, the ability to induce BNP and MCP-1 gene expression was abolished. Furthermore, exposure of HL-1 cells to ischemic conditions alone had no effect on BNP gene expression, while ischemia followed by reperfusion resulted in increased expression of BNP gene. Inhibitors of ERK and JNK inhibited the induction of BNP. Signaling array results suggested that the induction of both MAPK and NF-κB pathways is involved in the induction of BNP by Ox-LDL. These results suggest that Ox-LDL or peroxidized lipids formed in oxidatively stressed myocytes during ischemia-reperfusion injury may play a role in the induction of BNP and MCP-1.