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Survey of Approaches for Investigation of Atherosclerosis In Vivo. METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (CLIFTON, N.J.) 2022; 2419:57-72. [PMID: 35237958 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1924-7_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Although in vitro model systems are useful for investigation of atherosclerosis-associated processes, they represent simplification of complex events that occur in vivo, which involve interactions between many different cell types together with their environment. The use of animal model systems is important for more in-depth insights of the molecular mechanisms underlying atherosclerosis and for identifying potential targets for agents that can prevent plaque formation and even reverse existing disease. This chapter will provide a survey of such animal models and associated techniques that are routinely used for research of atherosclerosis in vivo.
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Noonan J, Bobik A, Peter K. The tandem stenosis mouse model: Towards understanding, imaging, and preventing atherosclerotic plaque instability and rupture. Br J Pharmacol 2020; 179:979-997. [PMID: 33368184 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The rupture of unstable atherosclerotic plaques is the major cause of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Despite significant limitations in our understanding and ability to identify unstable plaque pathology and prevent plaque rupture, most atherosclerosis research utilises preclinical animal models exhibiting stable atherosclerosis. Here, we introduce the tandem stenosis (TS) mouse model that reflects plaque instability and rupture, as seen in patients. The TS model involves dual ligation of the right carotid artery, leading to locally predefined unstable atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolaemic mice. It exhibits key characteristics of human unstable plaques, including plaque rupture, luminal thrombosis, intraplaque haemorrhage, large necrotic cores, thin or ruptured fibrous caps and extensive immune cell accumulation. Altogether, the TS model represents an ideal preclinical tool for improving our understanding of human plaque instability and rupture, for the development of imaging technologies to identify unstable plaques, and for the development and testing of plaque-stabilising treatments for the prevention of atherosclerotic plaque rupture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Noonan
- Atherothrombosis and Vascular Biology Laboratory, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Baker Department of Cardiometabolic Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Immunology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alex Bobik
- Department of Immunology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Vascular Biology and Atherosclerosis Laboratory, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Karlheinz Peter
- Atherothrombosis and Vascular Biology Laboratory, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Baker Department of Cardiometabolic Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Immunology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Affiliation(s)
- Aseel Alyagoob
- Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Anna Lena Lahmann
- Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Joner
- Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
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Vedder VL, Aherrahrou Z, Erdmann J. Dare to Compare. Development of Atherosclerotic Lesions in Human, Mouse, and Zebrafish. Front Cardiovasc Med 2020; 7:109. [PMID: 32714944 PMCID: PMC7344238 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2020.00109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, are the leading cause of death worldwide. Although mice are currently the most commonly used model for atherosclerosis, zebrafish are emerging as an alternative, especially for inflammatory and lipid metabolism studies. Here, we review the history of in vivo atherosclerosis models and highlight the potential for future studies on inflammatory responses in lipid deposits in zebrafish, based on known immune reactions in humans and mice, in anticipation of new zebrafish models with more advanced atherosclerotic plaques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana L Vedder
- Institute for Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.,University Heart Centre Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Zouhair Aherrahrou
- Institute for Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.,University Heart Centre Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Jeanette Erdmann
- Institute for Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.,University Heart Centre Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
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Poznyak AV, Silaeva YY, Orekhov AN, Deykin AV. Animal models of human atherosclerosis: current progress. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 53:e9557. [PMID: 32428130 PMCID: PMC7266502 DOI: 10.1590/1414-431x20209557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis retains the leading position among the causes of global morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in the industrialized countries. Despite the continuing efforts to investigate disease pathogenesis and find the potential points of effective therapeutic intervention, our understanding of atherosclerosis mechanisms remains limited. This is partly due to the multifactorial nature of the disease pathogenesis, when several factors so different as altered lipid metabolism, increased oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation act together leading to the formation and progression of atherosclerotic plaques. Adequate animal models are currently indispensable for studying these processes and searching for novel therapies. Animal models based on rodents, such as mice and rats, and rabbits represent important tools for studying atherosclerosis. Currently, genetically modified animals allow for previously unknown possibilities in modelling the disease and its most relevant aspects. In this review, we describe the recent progress made in creating such models and discuss the most important findings obtained with them to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- A V Poznyak
- Institute for Atherosclerosis Research, Skolkovo Innovative Center, Moscow, Russia
| | - Y Y Silaeva
- Core Facility Centre, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - A N Orekhov
- Institute for Atherosclerosis Research, Skolkovo Innovative Center, Moscow, Russia
| | - A V Deykin
- Core Facility Centre, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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Abstract
Surgical interventions on blood vessels bear a risk for intimal hyperplasia and atherosclerosis as a consequence of injury. A specific feature of intimal hyperplasia is the loss of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) differentiation gene expression. We hypothesized that immediate responses following injury induce vascular remodeling. To differentiate injury due to trauma, reperfusion and pressure changes we analyzed vascular responses to carotid artery bypass grafting in mice compared to transient ligation. As a control, the carotid artery was surgically laid open only. In both, bypass or ligation models, the inflammatory responses were transient, peaking after 6h, whereas the loss of VSMC differentiation gene expression persisted. Extended time kinetics showed that transient carotid artery ligation was sufficient to induce a persistent VSMC phenotype change throughout 28 days. Transient arterial ligation in ApoE knockout mice resulted in atherosclerosis in the transiently ligated vascular segment but not on the not-ligated contralateral side. The VSMC phenotype change could not be prevented by anti-TNF antibodies, Sorafenib, Cytosporone B or N-acetylcysteine treatment. Surgical interventions involving hypoxia/reperfusion are sufficient to induce VSMC phenotype changes and vascular remodeling. In situations of a perturbed lipid metabolism this bears the risk to precipitate atherosclerosis.
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Xing R, De Wilde D, McCann G, Ridwan Y, Schrauwen JTC, van der Steen AFW, Gijsen FJH, Van der Heiden K. Contrast-enhanced micro-CT imaging in murine carotid arteries: a new protocol for computing wall shear stress. Biomed Eng Online 2016; 15:156. [PMID: 28155699 PMCID: PMC5259814 DOI: 10.1186/s12938-016-0270-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wall shear stress (WSS) is involved in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. The correlation between WSS and atherosclerosis can be investigated over time using a WSS-manipulated atherosclerotic mouse model. To determine WSS in vivo, detailed 3D geometry of the vessel network is required. However, a protocol to reconstruct 3D murine vasculature using this animal model is lacking. In this project, we evaluated the adequacy of eXIA 160, a small animal contrast agent, for assessing murine vascular network on micro-CT. Also, a protocol was established for vessel geometry segmentation and WSS analysis. METHODS A tapering cast was placed around the right common carotid artery (RCCA) of ApoE-/- mice (n = 8). Contrast-enhanced micro-CT was performed using eXIA 160. An innovative local threshold-based segmentation procedure was implemented to reconstruct 3D geometry of the RCCA. The reconstructed RCCA was compared to the vessel geometry using a global threshold-based segmentation method. Computational fluid dynamics was applied to compute the velocity field and WSS distribution along the RCCA. RESULTS eXIA 160-enhanced micro-CT allowed clear visualization and assessment of the RCCA in all eight animals. No adverse biological effects were observed from the use of eXIA 160. Segmentation using local threshold values generated more accurate RCCA geometry than the global threshold-based approach. Mouse-specific velocity data and the RCCA geometry generated 3D WSS maps with high resolution, enabling quantitative analysis of WSS. In all animals, we observed low WSS upstream of the cast. Downstream of the cast, asymmetric WSS patterns were revealed with variation in size and location between animals. CONCLUSIONS eXIA 160 provided good contrast to reconstruct 3D vessel geometry and determine WSS patterns in the RCCA of the atherosclerotic mouse model. We established a novel local threshold-based segmentation protocol for RCCA reconstruction and WSS computation. The observed differences between animals indicate the necessity to use mouse-specific data for WSS analysis. For our future work, our protocol makes it possible to study in vivo WSS longitudinally over a growing plaque.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoyu Xing
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Thorax Center, Erasmus MC, Wytemaweg 80, Ee2338, 3015CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - David De Wilde
- IBiTech-bioMMeda, iMinds Medical IT, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Gayle McCann
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Thorax Center, Erasmus MC, Wytemaweg 80, Ee2338, 3015CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yanto Ridwan
- Department of Genetics, Erasmus MC, Wytemaweg 80, Ee720, 3015CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jelle T. C. Schrauwen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Thorax Center, Erasmus MC, Wytemaweg 80, Ee2338, 3015CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anton F. W. van der Steen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Thorax Center, Erasmus MC, Wytemaweg 80, Ee2338, 3015CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frank J. H. Gijsen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Thorax Center, Erasmus MC, Wytemaweg 80, Ee2338, 3015CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kim Van der Heiden
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Thorax Center, Erasmus MC, Wytemaweg 80, Ee2338, 3015CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Molecular Imaging of Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaques in Animal Models. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:ijms17091511. [PMID: 27618031 PMCID: PMC5037788 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17091511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2016] [Revised: 08/24/2016] [Accepted: 08/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is characterized by intimal plaques of the arterial vessels that develop slowly and, in some cases, may undergo spontaneous rupture with subsequent heart attack or stroke. Currently, noninvasive diagnostic tools are inadequate to screen atherosclerotic lesions at high risk of acute complications. Therefore, the attention of the scientific community has been focused on the use of molecular imaging for identifying vulnerable plaques. Genetically engineered murine models such as ApoE−/− and ApoE−/−Fbn1C1039G+/− mice have been shown to be useful for testing new probes targeting biomarkers of relevant molecular processes for the characterization of vulnerable plaques, such as vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-1, VEGFR-2, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, P-selectin, and integrins, and for the potential development of translational tools to identify high-risk patients who could benefit from early therapeutic interventions. This review summarizes the main animal models of vulnerable plaques, with an emphasis on genetically altered mice, and the state-of-the-art preclinical molecular imaging strategies.
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Assessment of shear stress related parameters in the carotid bifurcation using mouse-specific FSI simulations. J Biomech 2016; 49:2135-2142. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2015.11.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Accepted: 11/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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De Wilde D, Trachet B, De Meyer GRY, Segers P. Shear Stress Metrics and Their Relation to Atherosclerosis: An In Vivo Follow-up Study in Atherosclerotic Mice. Ann Biomed Eng 2015; 44:2327-2338. [PMID: 26695938 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-015-1540-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2015] [Accepted: 12/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
It is generally accepted that low and oscillatory wall shear stress favors the initiation and development of atherosclerosis. However, a quantitative analysis of the association between shear stress metrics at baseline and lesion prevalence at a later stage is challenging to perform in vivo on a within-subject basis. In this study, we assessed carotid hemodynamics and derived hemodynamic wall parameters from subject-specific fluid-structure interaction simulations in the left and right carotid arteries of 4 ApoE(-/-) mice prior to disease development. We then applied a point-by-point quantitative association (surrogate sample data analysis) between various established and more recent shear related parameters and the extent of macrophage infiltration at a later stage. We conclude that, for the atherosclerotic murine carotid bifurcation, (i) there is an association between hemodynamics and macrophage infiltration; (ii) this correlation is most apparent when assessed at the level of the entire carotid bifurcation; (iii) the strongest spatial correlation between hemodynamics and atherosclerosis development was found for the time averaged wall shear stress (negative correlation) and the relative residence time (positive correlation); (iv) aggregating the data leads to an overestimation of the correlation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David De Wilde
- IBiTech-bioMMeda, iMinds Medical IT, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. .,bioMMeda, De Pintelaan185-blokB5, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Bram Trachet
- IBiTech-bioMMeda, iMinds Medical IT, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Institute for Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Patrick Segers
- IBiTech-bioMMeda, iMinds Medical IT, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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