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Valente R, Mourato A, Xavier J, Sousa P, Domingues T, Tavares P, Avril S, Tomás A, Fragata J. Experimental Protocols to Test Aortic Soft Tissues: A Systematic Review. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:745. [PMID: 39199703 PMCID: PMC11351783 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11080745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Experimental protocols are fundamental for quantifying the mechanical behaviour of soft tissue. These data are crucial for advancing the understanding of soft tissue mechanics, developing and calibrating constitutive models, and informing the development of more accurate and predictive computational simulations and artificial intelligence tools. This paper offers a comprehensive review of experimental tests conducted on soft aortic tissues, employing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, based on the Scopus, Web of Science, IEEE, Google Scholar and PubMed databases. This study includes a detailed overview of the test method protocols, providing insights into practical methodologies, specimen preparation and full-field measurements. The review also briefly discusses the post-processing methods applied to extract material parameters from experimental data. In particular, the results are analysed and discussed providing representative domains of stress-strain curves for both uniaxial and biaxial tests on human aortic tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Valente
- UNIDEMI, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; (R.V.); (A.M.)
| | - André Mourato
- UNIDEMI, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; (R.V.); (A.M.)
| | - José Xavier
- UNIDEMI, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; (R.V.); (A.M.)
- Intelligent Systems Associate Laboratory, LASI, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Pedro Sousa
- INEGI, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; (P.S.); (P.T.)
| | - Tiago Domingues
- INEGI, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; (P.S.); (P.T.)
| | - Paulo Tavares
- INEGI, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; (P.S.); (P.T.)
| | - Stéphane Avril
- Mines Saint-Etienne, University of Lyon, Inserm, Sainbiose U1059, Campus Santé Innovation, 10, rue de la Marandière, 42270 Saint-Priest-en-Jarez, France;
| | - António Tomás
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Santa Marta Hospital, Rua de Santa Marta, 1169-024 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.T.); (J.F.)
| | - José Fragata
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Santa Marta Hospital, Rua de Santa Marta, 1169-024 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.T.); (J.F.)
- Department of Surgery and Human Morphology, NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campo Mártires da Pátria, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
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Rego BV, Weiss D, Humphrey JD. A Fast, Robust Method for Quantitative Assessment of Collagen Fibril Architecture from Transmission Electron Micrographs. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2023; 29:2099-2107. [PMID: 37856696 DOI: 10.1093/micmic/ozad116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Collagen is the most abundant protein in mammals; it exhibits a hierarchical organization and provides structural support to a wide range of soft tissues, including blood vessels. The architecture of collagen fibrils dictates vascular stiffness and strength, and changes therein can contribute to disease progression. While transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is routinely used to examine collagen fibrils under normal and pathological conditions, computational tools that enable fast and minimally subjective quantitative assessment remain lacking. In the present study, we describe a novel semi-automated image processing and statistical modeling pipeline for segmenting individual collagen fibrils from TEM images and quantifying key metrics of interest, including fibril cross-sectional area and aspect ratio. For validation, we show first-of-their-kind illustrative results for adventitial collagen in the thoracic aorta from three different mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno V Rego
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, 55 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
- Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering, Louisiana State University, 149 E. B. Doran Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Dar Weiss
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, 55 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Jay D Humphrey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, 55 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale School of Medicine, 10 Amistad Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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3
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Lau C, Muthu ML, Siddiqui IF, Li L, Reinhardt DP. High-Fat Diet Has a Protective Sex-Dependent Effect on Aortic Aneurysm Severity in a Marfan Syndrome Mouse Model. Can J Cardiol 2023; 39:1553-1567. [PMID: 37482239 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2023.07.020] [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: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in fibrillin-1 and is characterized by thoracic aortic aneurysms and other complications. Previous studies revealed sexual dimorphisms in formation of aortic aneurysm in patients with MFS. The current study aimed to investigate the combined role of a high-fat diet (HFD) and biological sex in aortic disease using the mgR/mgR MFS mouse model. METHODS Male and female mgR/mgR mice, as well as wild-type (WT) littermate mice, were fed a control diet (CD [10% fat]) or HFD (60% fat) from 4 to 12 weeks of age. Key aortic disease parameters analyzed included the diameter of the aortic wall; elastic fibre fragmentation; proteoglycan content; mRNA levels of Mmp12, Col1a1, Col3a1, and Fbn1; and fibrillin-1 deposition in the aortic wall. RESULTS HFD-fed female mgR/mgR mice had significantly reduced aortic diameters (35%), elastic fibre fragmentation (56%), pathologically enhanced proteoglycans (45%), and expression of Mmp12 (64%), Col1a1 (41%), and Col3a1 (43%) compared with male mgR/mgR mice on HFD. Fibrillin-1 deposition and Fbn1 mRNA levels were unaffected. The data reveal a protective effect of HFD in female mice. In contrast, CD did not exert any protective effects. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates a specific sexual dimorphism in MFS mice, with HFD exerting an explicit protective effect on severity of aortic disease in female mice. These preclinical data may be useful for developing nutritional recommendations for individuals with MFS in the longer term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cori Lau
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Muthu L Muthu
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Iram Fatima Siddiqui
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ling Li
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Dieter P Reinhardt
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
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Lin PK, Davis GE. Extracellular Matrix Remodeling in Vascular Disease: Defining Its Regulators and Pathological Influence. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2023; 43:1599-1616. [PMID: 37409533 PMCID: PMC10527588 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.318237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Because of structural and cellular differences (ie, degrees of matrix abundance and cross-linking, mural cell density, and adventitia), large and medium-sized vessels, in comparison to capillaries, react in a unique manner to stimuli that induce vascular disease. A stereotypical vascular injury response is ECM (extracellular matrix) remodeling that occurs particularly in larger vessels in response to injurious stimuli, such as elevated angiotensin II, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, genetic deficiencies, inflammatory cell infiltration, or exposure to proinflammatory mediators. Even with substantial and prolonged vascular damage, large- and medium-sized arteries, persist, but become modified by (1) changes in vascular wall cellularity; (2) modifications in the differentiation status of endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, or adventitial stem cells (each can become activated); (3) infiltration of the vascular wall by various leukocyte types; (4) increased exposure to critical growth factors and proinflammatory mediators; and (5) marked changes in the vascular ECM, that remodels from a homeostatic, prodifferentiation ECM environment to matrices that instead promote tissue reparative responses. This latter ECM presents previously hidden matricryptic sites that bind integrins to signal vascular cells and infiltrating leukocytes (in coordination with other mediators) to proliferate, invade, secrete ECM-degrading proteinases, and deposit injury-induced matrices (predisposing to vessel wall fibrosis). In contrast, in response to similar stimuli, capillaries can undergo regression responses (rarefaction). In summary, we have described the molecular events controlling ECM remodeling in major vascular diseases as well as the differential responses of arteries versus capillaries to key mediators inducing vascular injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prisca K. Lin
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida School of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - George E. Davis
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida School of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33612
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Weiss D, Rego BV, Cavinato C, Li DS, Kawamura Y, Emuna N, Humphrey JD. Effects of Age, Sex, and Extracellular Matrix Integrity on Aortic Dilatation and Rupture in a Mouse Model of Marfan Syndrome. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2023; 43:e358-e372. [PMID: 37470181 PMCID: PMC10528515 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.319122] [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: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transmural failure of the aorta is responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality; it occurs when mechanical stress exceeds strength. The aortic root and ascending aorta are susceptible to dissection and rupture in Marfan syndrome, a connective tissue disorder characterized by a progressive reduction in elastic fiber integrity. Whereas competent elastic fibers endow the aorta with compliance and resilience, cross-linked collagen fibers confer stiffness and strength. We hypothesized that postnatal reductions in matrix cross-linking increase aortopathy when turnover rates are high. METHODS We combined ex vivo biaxial mechanical testing with multimodality histological examinations to quantify expected age- and sex-dependent structural vulnerability of the ascending aorta in Fbn1C1041G/+ Marfan versus wild-type mice without and with 4-week exposures to β-aminopropionitrile, an inhibitor of lysyl oxidase-mediated cross-linking of newly synthesized elastic and collagen fibers. RESULTS We found a strong β-aminopropionitrile-associated sexual dimorphism in aortic dilatation in Marfan mice and aortic rupture in wild-type mice, with dilatation correlating with compromised elastic fiber integrity and rupture correlating with compromised collagen fibril organization. A lower incidence of rupture of β-aminopropionitrile-exposed Marfan aortas associated with increased lysyl oxidase, suggesting a compensatory remodeling of collagen that slows disease progression in the otherwise compromised Fbn1C1041G/+ aorta. CONCLUSIONS Collagen fiber structure and function in the Marfan aorta are augmented, in part, by increased lysyl oxidase in female and especially male mice, which improves structural integrity, particularly via fibrils in the adventitia. Preserving or promoting collagen cross-linking may represent a therapeutic target for an otherwise vulnerable aorta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dar Weiss
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT (D.W., B.V.R., C.C., D.S.L., Y.K., N.E., J.D.H.)
| | - Bruno V Rego
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT (D.W., B.V.R., C.C., D.S.L., Y.K., N.E., J.D.H.)
| | - Cristina Cavinato
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT (D.W., B.V.R., C.C., D.S.L., Y.K., N.E., J.D.H.)
| | - David S Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT (D.W., B.V.R., C.C., D.S.L., Y.K., N.E., J.D.H.)
| | - Yuki Kawamura
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT (D.W., B.V.R., C.C., D.S.L., Y.K., N.E., J.D.H.)
| | - Nir Emuna
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT (D.W., B.V.R., C.C., D.S.L., Y.K., N.E., J.D.H.)
| | - Jay D Humphrey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT (D.W., B.V.R., C.C., D.S.L., Y.K., N.E., J.D.H.)
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT (J.D.H.)
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Sachan N, Phoon CKL, Zilberberg L, Kugler MC, Ene T, Mintz SB, Murtada SI, Weiss D, Fishman GI, Humphrey JD, Rifkin DB. TGFβ-2 haploinsufficiency causes early death in mice with Marfan syndrome. Matrix Biol 2023; 121:41-55. [PMID: 37217119 PMCID: PMC10527763 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2023.05.004] [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: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
To assess the contribution of individual TGF-β isoforms to aortopathy in Marfan syndrome (MFS), we quantified the survival and phenotypes of mice with a combined fibrillin1 (the gene defective in MFS) hypomorphic mutation and a TGF-β1, 2, or 3 heterozygous null mutation. The loss of TGF-β2, and only TGF-β2, resulted in 80% of the double mutant animals dying earlier, by postnatal day 20, than MFS only mice. Death was not from thoracic aortic rupture, as observed in MFS mice, but was associated with hyperplastic aortic valve leaflets, aortic regurgitation, enlarged aortic root, increased heart weight, and impaired lung alveolar septation. Thus, there appears to be a relationship between loss of fibrillin1 and TGF-β2 in the postnatal development of the heart, aorta and lungs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nalani Sachan
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
| | - Colin K L Phoon
- Department of Pediatrics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Lior Zilberberg
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Matthias C Kugler
- Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Taylor Ene
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Shana B Mintz
- Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Sae-Il Murtada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Dar Weiss
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Glenn I Fishman
- Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Jay D Humphrey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Daniel B Rifkin
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA; Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
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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: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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.
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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.
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Chen M, Cavinato C, Hansen J, Tanaka K, Ren P, Hassab A, Li DS, Youshao E, Tellides G, Iyengar R, Humphrey JD, Schwartz MA. FN (Fibronectin)-Integrin α5 Signaling Promotes Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm in a Mouse Model of Marfan Syndrome. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2023; 43:e132-e150. [PMID: 36994727 PMCID: PMC10133209 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.319120] [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: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Marfan syndrome, caused by mutations in the gene for fibrillin-1, leads to thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs). Phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and ECM (extracellular matrix) remodeling are characteristic of both nonsyndromic and Marfan aneurysms. The ECM protein FN (fibronectin) is elevated in the tunica media of TAAs and amplifies inflammatory signaling in endothelial and SMCs through its main receptor, integrin α5β1. We investigated the role of integrin α5-specific signals in Marfan mice in which the cytoplasmic domain of integrin α5 was replaced with that of integrin α2 (denoted α5/2 chimera). METHODS We crossed α5/2 chimeric mice with Fbn1mgR/mgR mice (mgR model of Marfan syndrome) to evaluate the survival rate and pathogenesis of TAAs among wild-type, α5/2, mgR, and α5/2 mgR mice. Further biochemical and microscopic analysis of porcine and mouse aortic SMCs investigated molecular mechanisms by which FN affects SMCs and subsequent development of TAAs. RESULTS FN was elevated in the thoracic aortas from Marfan patients, in nonsyndromic aneurysms, and in mgR mice. The α5/2 mutation greatly prolonged survival of Marfan mice, with improved elastic fiber integrity, mechanical properties, SMC density, and SMC contractile gene expression. Furthermore, plating of wild-type SMCs on FN decreased contractile gene expression and activated inflammatory pathways whereas α5/2 SMCs were resistant. These effects correlated with increased NF-kB activation in cultured SMCs and mgR aortas, which was alleviated by the α5/2 mutation or NF-kB inhibition. CONCLUSIONS FN-integrin α5 signaling is a significant driver of TAA in the mgR mouse model. This pathway thus warrants further investigation as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghao Chen
- Cardiovascular Research Center (M.C., K.T., M.A.S.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Cristina Cavinato
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT (C.C., D.S.L., E.Y., J.D.H., M.A.S.)
| | - Jens Hansen
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (J.H., R.I.)
| | - Keiichiro Tanaka
- Cardiovascular Research Center (M.C., K.T., M.A.S.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Pengwei Ren
- Department of Surgery (P.R., A.H., G.T., M.A.S.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Abdulrahman Hassab
- Department of Surgery (P.R., A.H., G.T., M.A.S.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - David S Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT (C.C., D.S.L., E.Y., J.D.H., M.A.S.)
| | - Eric Youshao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT (C.C., D.S.L., E.Y., J.D.H., M.A.S.)
| | - George Tellides
- Department of Surgery (P.R., A.H., G.T., M.A.S.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program (G.T., J.D.H.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Ravi Iyengar
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (J.H., R.I.)
| | - Jay D Humphrey
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program (G.T., J.D.H.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT (C.C., D.S.L., E.Y., J.D.H., M.A.S.)
| | - Martin A Schwartz
- Cardiovascular Research Center (M.C., K.T., M.A.S.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
- Department of Surgery (P.R., A.H., G.T., M.A.S.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
- Departments of Medicine (Cardiology) and Cell Biology (M.A.S.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT (C.C., D.S.L., E.Y., J.D.H., M.A.S.)
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Goswami S, Li DS, Rego BV, Latorre M, Humphrey JD, Karniadakis GE. Neural operator learning of heterogeneous mechanobiological insults contributing to aortic aneurysms. J R Soc Interface 2022; 19:20220410. [PMID: 36043289 PMCID: PMC9428523 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2022.0410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is a localized dilatation of the aorta that can lead to life-threatening dissection or rupture. In vivo assessments of TAA progression are largely limited to measurements of aneurysm size and growth rate. There is promise, however, that computational modelling of the evolving biomechanics of the aorta could predict future geometry and properties from initiating mechanobiological insults. We present an integrated framework to train a deep operator network (DeepONet)-based surrogate model to identify TAA contributing factors using synthetic finite-element-based datasets. For training, we employ a constrained mixture model of aortic growth and remodelling to generate maps of local aortic dilatation and distensibility for multiple TAA risk factors. We evaluate the performance of the surrogate model for insult distributions varying from fusiform (analytically defined) to complex (randomly generated). We propose two frameworks, one trained on sparse information and one on full-field greyscale images, to gain insight into a preferred neural operator-based approach. We show that this continuous learning approach can predict the patient-specific insult profile associated with any given dilatation and distensibility map with high accuracy, particularly when based on full-field images. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of applying DeepONet to support transfer learning of patient-specific inputs to predict TAA progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somdatta Goswami
- Division of Applied Mathematics, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - David S. Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Bruno V. Rego
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Marcos Latorre
- Centre for Research and Innovation in Bioengineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, València, Spain
| | - Jay D. Humphrey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - George Em Karniadakis
- Division of Applied Mathematics, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
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Weiss D, Long AS, Tellides G, Avril S, Humphrey JD, Bersi MR. Evolving Mural Defects, Dilatation, and Biomechanical Dysfunction in Angiotensin II-Induced Thoracic Aortopathies. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2022; 42:973-986. [PMID: 35770665 PMCID: PMC9339505 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.122.317394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thoracic aortopathy associates with extracellular matrix remodeling and altered biomechanical properties. We sought to quantify the natural history of thoracic aortopathy in a common mouse model and to correlate measures of wall remodeling such as aortic dilatation or localized mural defects with evolving microstructural composition and biomechanical properties of the wall. METHODS We combined a high-resolution multimodality imaging approach (panoramic digital image correlation and optical coherence tomography) with histopathologic examinations and biaxial mechanical testing to correlate spatially, for the first time, macroscopic mural defects and medial degeneration within the ascending aorta with local changes in aortic wall composition and mechanical properties. RESULTS Findings revealed strong correlations between local decreases in elastic energy storage and increases in circumferential material stiffness with increasing proximal aortic diameter and especially mural defect size. Mural defects tended to exhibit a pronounced biomechanical dysfunction that is driven by an altered organization of collagen and elastic fibers. CONCLUSIONS While aneurysmal dilatation is often observed within particular segments of the aorta, dissection and rupture initiate as highly localized mechanical failures. We show that wall composition and material properties are compromised in regions of local mural defects, which further increases the dilatation and overall structural vulnerability of the wall. Identification of therapies focused on promoting robust collagen accumulation may protect the wall from these vulnerabilities and limit the incidence of dissection and rupture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dar Weiss
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Aaron S. Long
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - George Tellides
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Stéphane Avril
- Mines Saint-Etienne, University of Lyon, University Jean Monnet, INSERM, Saint-Etienne, France
| | - Jay 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
| | - Matthew R. Bersi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
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杨 书, 罗 芳. [Latest advances in the diagnosis and treatment of Marfan syndrome]. ZHONGGUO DANG DAI ER KE ZA ZHI = CHINESE JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY PEDIATRICS 2022; 24:826-831. [PMID: 35894201 PMCID: PMC9336618 DOI: 10.7499/j.issn.1008-8830.2203099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a multisystem connective tissue disease with autosomal dominant inheritance. It is mainly caused by FBN1 gene mutation and often has different clinical manifestations. Neonatal MFS is especially rare with severe conditions and a poor prognosis. At present, there is still no radical treatment method for MFS, but early identification, early diagnosis, and early treatment can effectively prolong the life span of patients. This article reviews the latest advances in the diagnosis and treatment of MFS.
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