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Leyssens L, Balcaen T, Pétréa M, Ayllón NB, Aazmani WE, de Pierpont A, Pyka G, Lacroix V, Kerckhofs G. Non-destructive 3D characterization of the blood vessel wall microstructure in different species and blood vessel types using contrast-enhanced microCT and comparison with synthetic vascular grafts. Acta Biomater 2023; 164:303-316. [PMID: 37072066 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
To improve the current treatment for vascular diseases, such as vascular grafts, intravascular stents, and balloon angioplasty intervention, the evaluation of the native blood vessel microstructure in full 3D could be beneficial. For this purpose, we used contrast-enhanced X-ray microfocus computed tomography (CECT): a combination of X-ray microfocus computed tomography (microCT) and contrast-enhancing staining agents (CESAs) containing high atomic number elements. In this work, we performed a comparative study based on staining time and contrast-enhancement of 2 CESAs: Monolacunary and 1:2 Hafnium-substituted Wells-Dawson polyoxometalate (Mono-WD POM and Hf-WD POM, respectively) for imaging of the porcine aorta. After showing the advantages of Hf-WD POM in terms of contrast enhancement, we expanded our imaging to other species (rat, porcine, and human) and other types of blood vessels (porcine aorta, femoral artery, and vena cava), clearly indicating microstructural differences between different types of blood vessels and different species. We then showed the possibility to extract useful 3D quantitative information from the rat and porcine aortic wall, potentially to be used for computational modeling or for future design optimization of graft materials. Finally, a structural comparison with existing synthetic vascular grafts was made. This information will allow to better understand the in vivo functioning of native blood vessels and to improve the current disease treatments. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Synthetic vascular grafts, used as treatment for some cardiovascular diseases, still often fail clinically, potentially because of a mismatch in mechanical behaviour between the native blood vessel and the graft. To better understand the causes of this mismatch, we studied the full 3D microstructure of blood vessels. For this, we identified Hafnium-substituted Wells-Dawson polyoxometalate as contrast-enhancing staining agent to perform contrast-enhanced X-ray microfocus computed tomography. This technique allowed to show important differences in the microstructure of different types of blood vessels and in different species, as well as with that of synthetic grafts. This information can lead to a better understanding of the functioning of blood vessels and will allow to improve current disease treatments, such as vascular grafts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Leyssens
- Mechatronic, Electrical Energy and Dynamic Systems, Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, UCLouvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; Pole of Morphology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium
| | - Tim Balcaen
- Mechatronic, Electrical Energy and Dynamic Systems, Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, UCLouvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; Pole of Morphology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium; MolDesignS, Sustainable Chemistry for Metals and Molecules, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maïté Pétréa
- Department BioMechanics, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Natalia Béjar Ayllón
- Mechatronic, Electrical Energy and Dynamic Systems, Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, UCLouvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Walid El Aazmani
- Pole of Morphology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium
| | - Alix de Pierpont
- Mechatronic, Electrical Energy and Dynamic Systems, Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, UCLouvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Grzegorz Pyka
- Mechatronic, Electrical Energy and Dynamic Systems, Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, UCLouvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; Pole of Morphology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium
| | - Valérie Lacroix
- Pole of Cardiovascular Research, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium; Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Service de chirurgie cardiovasculaire et thoracique, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium
| | - Greet Kerckhofs
- Mechatronic, Electrical Energy and Dynamic Systems, Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, UCLouvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; Pole of Morphology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium; Department of Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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2
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Rodríguez-Rovira I, Arce C, De Rycke K, Pérez B, Carretero A, Arbonés M, Teixidò-Turà G, Gómez-Cabrera MC, Campuzano V, Jiménez-Altayó F, Egea G. Allopurinol blocks aortic aneurysm in a mouse model of Marfan syndrome via reducing aortic oxidative stress. Free Radic Biol Med 2022; 193:538-550. [PMID: 36347404 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2022.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing evidence indicates that redox stress participates in MFS aortopathy, though its mechanistic contribution is little known. We reported elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and NADPH oxidase NOX4 upregulation in MFS patients and mouse aortae. Here we address the contribution of xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR), which catabolizes purines into uric acid and ROS in MFS aortopathy. METHODS AND RESULTS In aortic samples from MFS patients, XOR protein expression, revealed by immunohistochemistry, increased in both the tunicae intima and media of the dilated zone. In MFS mice (Fbn1C1041G/+), aortic XOR mRNA transcripts and enzymatic activity of the oxidase form (XO) were augmented in the aorta of 3-month-old mice but not in older animals. The administration of the XOR inhibitor allopurinol (ALO) halted the progression of aortic root aneurysm in MFS mice. ALO administrated before the onset of the aneurysm prevented its subsequent development. ALO also inhibited MFS-associated endothelial dysfunction as well as elastic fiber fragmentation, nuclear translocation of pNRF2 and increased 3'-nitrotyrosine levels, and collagen maturation remodeling, all occurring in the tunica media. ALO reduced the MFS-associated large aortic production of H2O2, and NOX4 and MMP2 transcriptional overexpression. CONCLUSIONS Allopurinol interferes in aortic aneurysm progression acting as a potent antioxidant. This study strengthens the concept that redox stress is an important determinant of aortic aneurysm formation and progression in MFS and warrants the evaluation of ALO therapy in MFS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Rodríguez-Rovira
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Barcelona School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Arce
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Barcelona School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Karo De Rycke
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Barcelona School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Belén Pérez
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, Neuroscience Institute, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Aitor Carretero
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, CIBERFES, Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario/INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Marc Arbonés
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Barcelona School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gisela Teixidò-Turà
- Department of Cardiology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER-CV, Vall d'Hebrón Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mari Carmen Gómez-Cabrera
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, CIBERFES, Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario/INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Victoria Campuzano
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Barcelona School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 08036, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, Spain
| | - Francesc Jiménez-Altayó
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, Neuroscience Institute, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Gustavo Egea
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Barcelona School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.
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3
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Ben Zemzem A, Liang X, Vanalderwiert L, Bour C, Romier-Crouzet B, Blaise S, Sherratt MJ, Weitkamp T, Dauchez M, Baud S, Passat N, Debelle L, Almagro S. Early Alterations of Intra-Mural Elastic Lamellae Revealed by Synchrotron X-ray Micro-CT Exploration of Diabetic Aortas. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063250. [PMID: 35328674 PMCID: PMC8954876 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetes is a major concern of our society as it affects one person out of 11 around the world. Elastic fiber alterations due to diabetes increase the stiffness of large arteries, but the structural effects of these alterations are poorly known. To address this issue, we used synchrotron X-ray microcomputed tomography with in-line phase contrast to image in three dimensions C57Bl6J (control) and db/db (diabetic) mice with a resolution of 650 nm/voxel and a field size of 1.3 mm3. Having previously shown in younger WT and db/db mouse cohorts that elastic lamellae contain an internal supporting lattice, here we show that in older db/db mice the elastic lamellae lose this scaffold. We coupled this label-free method with automated image analysis to demonstrate that the elastic lamellae from the arterial wall are structurally altered and become 11% smoother (286,665 measurements). This alteration suggests a link between the loss of the 3D lattice-like network and the waviness of the elastic lamellae. Therefore, waviness measurement appears to be a measurable elasticity indicator and the 3D lattice-like network appears to be at the origin of the existence of this waviness. Both could be suitable indicators of the overall elasticity of the aorta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aïcha Ben Zemzem
- UMR MEDyC, CNRS 7369, Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, SFR CAP SANTE, 51100 Reims, France; (A.B.Z.); (X.L.); (L.V.); (C.B.); (B.R.-C.); (S.B.); (M.D.); (S.B.)
| | - Xiaowen Liang
- UMR MEDyC, CNRS 7369, Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, SFR CAP SANTE, 51100 Reims, France; (A.B.Z.); (X.L.); (L.V.); (C.B.); (B.R.-C.); (S.B.); (M.D.); (S.B.)
- CReSTIC, Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, 51100 Reims, France;
| | - Laetitia Vanalderwiert
- UMR MEDyC, CNRS 7369, Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, SFR CAP SANTE, 51100 Reims, France; (A.B.Z.); (X.L.); (L.V.); (C.B.); (B.R.-C.); (S.B.); (M.D.); (S.B.)
| | - Camille Bour
- UMR MEDyC, CNRS 7369, Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, SFR CAP SANTE, 51100 Reims, France; (A.B.Z.); (X.L.); (L.V.); (C.B.); (B.R.-C.); (S.B.); (M.D.); (S.B.)
| | - Béatrice Romier-Crouzet
- UMR MEDyC, CNRS 7369, Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, SFR CAP SANTE, 51100 Reims, France; (A.B.Z.); (X.L.); (L.V.); (C.B.); (B.R.-C.); (S.B.); (M.D.); (S.B.)
| | - Sébastien Blaise
- UMR MEDyC, CNRS 7369, Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, SFR CAP SANTE, 51100 Reims, France; (A.B.Z.); (X.L.); (L.V.); (C.B.); (B.R.-C.); (S.B.); (M.D.); (S.B.)
| | - Michael J. Sherratt
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK;
| | | | - Manuel Dauchez
- UMR MEDyC, CNRS 7369, Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, SFR CAP SANTE, 51100 Reims, France; (A.B.Z.); (X.L.); (L.V.); (C.B.); (B.R.-C.); (S.B.); (M.D.); (S.B.)
| | - Stéphanie Baud
- UMR MEDyC, CNRS 7369, Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, SFR CAP SANTE, 51100 Reims, France; (A.B.Z.); (X.L.); (L.V.); (C.B.); (B.R.-C.); (S.B.); (M.D.); (S.B.)
| | - Nicolas Passat
- CReSTIC, Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, 51100 Reims, France;
| | - Laurent Debelle
- UMR MEDyC, CNRS 7369, Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, SFR CAP SANTE, 51100 Reims, France; (A.B.Z.); (X.L.); (L.V.); (C.B.); (B.R.-C.); (S.B.); (M.D.); (S.B.)
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK;
- Correspondence: (L.D.); (S.A.)
| | - Sébastien Almagro
- UMR MEDyC, CNRS 7369, Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, SFR CAP SANTE, 51100 Reims, France; (A.B.Z.); (X.L.); (L.V.); (C.B.); (B.R.-C.); (S.B.); (M.D.); (S.B.)
- Correspondence: (L.D.); (S.A.)
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4
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Zhu L, Duerr J, Zhou-Suckow Z, Wagner WL, Weinheimer O, Salomon JJ, Leitz D, Konietzke P, Yu H, Ackermann M, Stiller W, Kauczor HU, Mall MA, Wielpütz MO. µCT to quantify muco-obstructive lung disease and effects of neutrophil elastase knockout in mice. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2022; 322:L401-L411. [PMID: 35080183 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00341.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Muco-obstructive lung diseases are characterized by airway obstruction and hyperinflation, which can be quantified by imaging. Our aim was to evaluate µCT for longitudinal quantification of muco-obstructive lung disease in β-epithelial Na+ channel overexpressing (Scnn1b-TG) mice and of the effects of neutrophil elastase (NE) knockout on its progression. Lungs from wild-type (WT), NE-/-, Scnn1b-TG, and Scnn1b-TG/NE-/- mice were scanned with 9 µm resolution at 0, 5, 14 and 60 days of age, and airway and parenchymal disease was quantified. Mucus adhesion lesions (MAL) were persistently increased in Scnn1b-TG compared to WT mice from 0 days (20.25±6.50 vs. 9.60±2.07, P<0.05), and this effect was attenuated in Scnn1b-TG/NE-/- mice (5.33±3.67, P<0.001). Airway wall area percentage (WA%) was increased in Scnn1b-TG mice compared to WT from 14 days onward (59.2±6.3% vs. 49.8±9.0%, P<0.001) but was similar in Scnn1b-TG/NE-/- compared to WT at 60 days (46.4±9.2% vs. 45.4±11.5%, P=0.97). Air proportion (Air%) and mean linear intercept (Lm) were persistently increased in Scnn1b-TG compared to WT from 5 days on (53.9±4.5% vs. 30.0±5.5% and 78.82±8.44µm vs. 65.66±4.15µm, respectively, P<0.001), whereas in Scnn1b-TG/NE-/- Air% and Lm were similar to WT from birth (27.7±5.5% vs.27.2±5.9%, P =0.92 and 61.48±9.20µm vs. 61.70±6.73µm, P=0.93, respectively). Our results suggest that µCT is sensitive to detect the onset and progression of muco-obstructive lung disease and effects of genetic deletion of NE on morphology of airways and lung parenchyma in Scnn1b-TG mice, and that it may serve as a sensitive endpoint for preclinical studies of novel therapeutic interventions for muco-obstructive lung diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhu
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology with Nuclear Medicine, Thoraxklinik at the University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julia Duerr
- Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Translational Pulmonology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,German Center for Lung Research (DZL), associated partner Berlin, Germany
| | - Zhe Zhou-Suckow
- Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Translational Pulmonology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Willi L Wagner
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology with Nuclear Medicine, Thoraxklinik at the University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Oliver Weinheimer
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology with Nuclear Medicine, Thoraxklinik at the University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Johanna Jessica Salomon
- Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Translational Pulmonology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dominik Leitz
- Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Translational Pulmonology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,German Center for Lung Research (DZL), associated partner Berlin, Germany
| | - Philip Konietzke
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology with Nuclear Medicine, Thoraxklinik at the University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hong Yu
- Department of Radiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Maximilian Ackermann
- Institute of Functional and Clinical Anatomy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.,Institute of Pathology and Department of Molecular Pathology, Helios University Clinic Wuppertal, University of Witten-Herdecke, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Wolfram Stiller
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hans-Ulrich Kauczor
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology with Nuclear Medicine, Thoraxklinik at the University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marcus A Mall
- Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Translational Pulmonology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,German Center for Lung Research (DZL), associated partner Berlin, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
| | - Mark Oliver Wielpütz
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology with Nuclear Medicine, Thoraxklinik at the University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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5
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Cavinato C, Chen M, Weiss D, Ruiz-Rodríguez MJ, Schwartz MA, Humphrey JD. Progressive Microstructural Deterioration Dictates Evolving Biomechanical Dysfunction in the Marfan Aorta. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 8:800730. [PMID: 34977201 PMCID: PMC8716484 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.800730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Medial deterioration leading to thoracic aortic aneurysms arises from multiple causes, chief among them mutations to the gene that encodes fibrillin-1 and leads to Marfan syndrome. Fibrillin-1 microfibrils associate with elastin to form elastic fibers, which are essential structural, functional, and instructional components of the normal aortic wall. Compromised elastic fibers adversely impact overall structural integrity and alter smooth muscle cell phenotype. Despite significant progress in characterizing clinical, histopathological, and mechanical aspects of fibrillin-1 related aortopathies, a direct correlation between the progression of microstructural defects and the associated mechanical properties that dictate aortic functionality remains wanting. In this paper, age-matched wild-type, Fbn1 C1041G/+, and Fbn1 mgR/mgR mouse models were selected to represent three stages of increasing severity of the Marfan aortic phenotype. Ex vivo multiphoton imaging and biaxial mechanical testing of the ascending and descending thoracic aorta under physiological loading conditions demonstrated that elastic fiber defects, collagen fiber remodeling, and cell reorganization increase with increasing dilatation. Three-dimensional microstructural characterization further revealed radial patterns of medial degeneration that become more uniform with increasing dilatation while correlating strongly with increased circumferential material stiffness and decreased elastic energy storage, both of which comprise aortic functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Cavinato
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Minghao Chen
- Cardiovascular Research Center and Department of Internal Medicine (Cardiology), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Dar Weiss
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Maria Jesús Ruiz-Rodríguez
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
| | - Martin A Schwartz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States.,Cardiovascular Research Center and Department of Internal Medicine (Cardiology), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Jay D Humphrey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States.,Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
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6
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Ben Zemzem A, Genevaux A, Wahart A, Bodey AJ, Blaise S, Romier-Crouzet B, Jonquet J, Bour C, Cogranne R, Beauseroy P, Dauchez M, Sherratt MJ, Debelle L, Almagro S. X-ray microtomography reveals a lattice-like network within aortic elastic lamellae. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21844. [PMID: 34473371 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202100323rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The arterial wall consists of three concentric layers: intima, media, and adventitia. Beyond their resident cells, these layers are characterized by an extracellular matrix (ECM), which provides both biochemical and mechanical support. Elastin, the major component of arterial ECM, is present in the medial layer and organized in concentric elastic lamellae that confer resilience to the wall. We explored the arterial wall structures from C57Bl6 (control), db/db (diabetic), and ApoE-/- (atherogenic) mice aged 3 months using synchrotron X-ray computed microtomography on fixed and unstained tissues with a large image field (8 mm3 ). This approach combined a good resolution (0.83 µm/voxel), large 3D imaging field. and an excellent signal to noise ratio conferred by phase-contrast imaging. We determined from 2D virtual slices that the thickness of intramural ECM structures was comparable between strains but automated image analysis of the 3D arterial volumes revealed a lattice-like network within concentric elastic lamellae. We hypothesize that this network could play a role in arterial mechanics. This work demonstrates that phase-contrast synchrotron X-ray computed microtomography is a powerful technique which to characterize unstained soft tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aïcha Ben Zemzem
- CNRS UMR7369 MEDyC, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
| | - Aline Genevaux
- CNRS UMR7369 MEDyC, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
| | - Amandine Wahart
- CNRS UMR7369 MEDyC, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
| | | | - Sébastien Blaise
- CNRS UMR7369 MEDyC, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
| | | | - Jessica Jonquet
- CNRS UMR7369 MEDyC, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
| | - Camille Bour
- CNRS UMR7369 MEDyC, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
| | - Rémi Cogranne
- Troyes University of Technology, UMR CNRS 6281 ICD/ROSAS/LM2S, Troyes, France
| | - Pierre Beauseroy
- Troyes University of Technology, UMR CNRS 6281 ICD/ROSAS/LM2S, Troyes, France
| | - Manuel Dauchez
- CNRS UMR7369 MEDyC, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
| | - Michael J Sherratt
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Laurent Debelle
- CNRS UMR7369 MEDyC, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France.,Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Sébastien Almagro
- CNRS UMR7369 MEDyC, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
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7
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Campisi S, Jayendiran R, Condemi F, Viallon M, Croisille P, Avril S. Significance of Hemodynamics Biomarkers, Tissue Biomechanics and Numerical Simulations in the Pathogenesis of Ascending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms. Curr Pharm Des 2021; 27:1890-1898. [PMID: 33319666 DOI: 10.2174/1381612826999201214231648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Guidelines for the treatment of aortic wall diseases are based on measurements of maximum aortic diameter. However, aortic rupture or dissections do occur for small aortic diameters. Growing scientific evidence underlines the importance of biomechanics and hemodynamics in aortic disease development and progression. Wall shear stress (WWS) is an important hemodynamics marker that depends on aortic wall morphology and on the aortic valve function. WSS could be helpful to interpret aortic wall remodeling and define personalized risk criteria. The complementarity of Computational Fluid Dynamics and 4D Magnetic Resonance Imaging as tools for WSS assessment is a promising reality. The potentiality of these innovative technologies will provide maps or atlases of hemodynamics biomarkers to predict aortic tissue dysfunction. Ongoing efforts should focus on the correlation between these non-invasive imaging biomarkers and clinico-pathologic situations for the implementation of personalized medicine in current clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Campisi
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery; University Hospistal of Saint Etienne, France
| | - Raja Jayendiran
- Mines Saint-Etienne, Univ Lyon, Univ Jean Monnet, INSERM, U 1059 Sainbiose, Centre CIS, F - 42023 Saint-Etienne, France
| | - Francesca Condemi
- Mines Saint-Etienne, Univ Lyon, Univ Jean Monnet, INSERM, U 1059 Sainbiose, Centre CIS, F - 42023 Saint-Etienne, France
| | - Magalie Viallon
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Saint Etienne, France
| | - Pierre Croisille
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Saint Etienne, France
| | - Stéphane Avril
- Mines Saint-Etienne, Univ Lyon, Univ Jean Monnet, INSERM, U 1059 Sainbiose, Centre CIS, F - 42023 Saint-Etienne, France
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8
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Leyssens L, Pestiaux C, Kerckhofs G. A Review of Ex Vivo X-ray Microfocus Computed Tomography-Based Characterization of the Cardiovascular System. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3263. [PMID: 33806852 PMCID: PMC8004599 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular malformations and diseases are common but complex and often not yet fully understood. To better understand the effects of structural and microstructural changes of the heart and the vasculature on their proper functioning, a detailed characterization of the microstructure is crucial. In vivo imaging approaches are noninvasive and allow visualizing the heart and the vasculature in 3D. However, their spatial image resolution is often too limited for microstructural analyses, and hence, ex vivo imaging is preferred for this purpose. Ex vivo X-ray microfocus computed tomography (microCT) is a rapidly emerging high-resolution 3D structural imaging technique often used for the assessment of calcified tissues. Contrast-enhanced microCT (CE-CT) or phase-contrast microCT (PC-CT) improve this technique by additionally allowing the distinction of different low X-ray-absorbing soft tissues. In this review, we present the strengths of ex vivo microCT, CE-CT and PC-CT for quantitative 3D imaging of the structure and/or microstructure of the heart, the vasculature and their substructures in healthy and diseased state. We also discuss their current limitations, mainly with regard to the contrasting methods and the tissue preparation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Leyssens
- Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; (L.L.); (C.P.)
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium
| | - Camille Pestiaux
- Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; (L.L.); (C.P.)
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium
| | - Greet Kerckhofs
- Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; (L.L.); (C.P.)
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium
- Department of Materials Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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9
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Heinz A. Elastic fibers during aging and disease. Ageing Res Rev 2021; 66:101255. [PMID: 33434682 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Elastic fibers are essential constituents of the extracellular matrix of higher vertebrates and endow several tissues and organs including lungs, skin and blood vessels with elasticity and resilience. During the human lifespan, elastic fibers are exposed to a variety of enzymatic, chemical and biophysical influences, and accumulate damage due to their low turnover. Aging of elastin and elastic fibers involves enzymatic degradation, oxidative damage, glycation, calcification, aspartic acid racemization, binding of lipids and lipid peroxidation products, carbamylation and mechanical fatigue. These processes can trigger an impairment or loss of elastic fiber function and are associated with severe pathologies. There are different inherited or acquired pathological conditions, which influence the structure and function of elastic fibers and microfibrils predominantly in the cardiorespiratory system and skin. Inherited elastic-fiber pathologies have a direct or indirect impact on elastic-fiber formation due to mutations in the fibrillin genes (fibrillinopathies), in the elastin gene (elastinopathies) or in genes encoding proteins that are associated with microfibrils or elastic fibers. Acquired elastic-fiber pathologies appear age-related or as a result of multiple factors impairing tissue homeostasis. This review gives an overview on the fate of elastic fibers over the human lifespan in health and disease.
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10
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X-ray Micro-Computed Tomography: An Emerging Technology to Analyze Vascular Calcification in Animal Models. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21124538. [PMID: 32630604 PMCID: PMC7352990 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular calcification describes the formation of mineralized tissue within the blood vessel wall, and it is highly associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. In this article, we briefly review different rodent models used to study vascular calcification in vivo, and critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of the current techniques used to analyze and quantify calcification in these models, namely 2-D histology and the o-cresolphthalein assay. In light of this, we examine X-ray micro-computed tomography (µCT) as an emerging complementary tool for the analysis of vascular calcification in animal models. We demonstrate that this non-destructive technique allows us to simultaneously quantify and localize calcification in an intact vessel in 3-D, and we consider recent advances in µCT sample preparation techniques. This review also discusses the potential to combine 3-D µCT analyses with subsequent 2-D histological, immunohistochemical, and proteomic approaches in correlative microscopy workflows to obtain rich, multifaceted information on calcification volume, calcification load, and signaling mechanisms from within the same arterial segment. In conclusion we briefly discuss the potential use of µCT to visualize and measure vascular calcification in vivo in real-time.
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11
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Le NA, Kuo W, Müller B, Kurtcuoglu V, Spingler B. Crosslinkable polymeric contrast agent for high-resolution X-ray imaging of the vascular system. Chem Commun (Camb) 2020; 56:5885-5888. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cc09883f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A contrast agent for X-ray micro computed tomography (μCT), called XlinCA, that combines reliable perfusion and permanent retention and contrast properties, was developed for ex vivo imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngoc An Le
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Zurich
- 8057 Zurich
- Switzerland
| | - Willy Kuo
- Institute of Physiology
- University of Zurich
- 8057 Zurich
- Switzerland
- National Centre of Competence in Research
| | - Bert Müller
- Biomaterials Science Center
- Department of Biomedical Engineering
- University of Basel
- 4123 Allschwil
- Switzerland
| | - Vartan Kurtcuoglu
- Institute of Physiology
- University of Zurich
- 8057 Zurich
- Switzerland
- National Centre of Competence in Research
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12
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Sherratt MJ, Hopkinson L, Naven M, Hibbert SA, Ozols M, Eckersley A, Newton VL, Bell M, Meng QJ. Circadian rhythms in skin and other elastic tissues. Matrix Biol 2019; 84:97-110. [PMID: 31422155 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2019.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Circadian rhythms are daily oscillations that, in mammals, are driven by both a master clock, located in the brain, and peripheral clocks in cells and tissues. Approximately 10% of the transcriptome, including extracellular matrix components, is estimated to be under circadian control. Whilst it has been established that certain collagens and extracellular matrix proteases are diurnally regulated (for example in tendon, cartilage and intervertebral disc) the role played by circadian rhythms in mediating elastic fiber homeostasis is poorly understood. Skin, arteries and lungs are dynamic, resilient, elastic fiber-rich organs and tissues. In skin, circadian rhythms influence cell migration and proliferation, wound healing and susceptibility of the tissues to damage (from protease activity, oxidative stress and ultraviolet radiation). In the cardiovascular system, blood pressure and heart rate also follow age-dependent circadian rhythms whilst the lungs exhibit diurnal variations in immune response. In order to better understand these processes it will be necessary to characterise diurnal changes in extracellular matrix biology. In particular, given the sensitivity of peripheral clocks to external factors, the timed delivery of interventions (chronotherapy) has the potential to significantly improve the efficacy of treatments designed to repair and regenerate damaged cutaneous, vascular and pulmonary tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Sherratt
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology & Regenerative Medicine, The University of Manchester, UK.
| | - Louise Hopkinson
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology & Regenerative Medicine, The University of Manchester, UK; Centre for Doctoral Training in Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, UK; Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, UK
| | - Mark Naven
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology & Regenerative Medicine, The University of Manchester, UK; Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, UK
| | - Sarah A Hibbert
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology & Regenerative Medicine, The University of Manchester, UK
| | - Matiss Ozols
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology & Regenerative Medicine, The University of Manchester, UK
| | - Alexander Eckersley
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology & Regenerative Medicine, The University of Manchester, UK
| | | | - Mike Bell
- Walgreens Boots Alliance, Thane Rd, Nottingham, England, UK
| | - Qing-Jun Meng
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology & Regenerative Medicine, The University of Manchester, UK; Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, UK
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