Laura Hansen

Polymerase Delta Interacting Protein 2 Sustains Vascular Structure and Function

Objective Based on previous evidence that polymerase delta interacting protein 2 (Poldip2) increases NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) activity in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), we hypothesized that in vivo knockdown of Poldip2 would inhibit reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and alter vascular function.Objective—On the basis of previous evidence that polymerase delta interacting protein 2 (Poldip2) increases reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 4 (Nox4) activity in vascular smooth muscle cells, we hypothesized that in vivo knockdown of Poldip2 would inhibit reactive oxygen species production and alter vascular function. Approach and Results—Because homozygous Poldip2 deletion is lethal, Poldip2+/− mice were used. Poldip2 mRNA and protein levels were reduced by ≈50% in Poldip2+/− aorta, with no change in p22phox, Nox1, Nox2, and Nox4 mRNAs. NADPH oxidase activity was also inhibited in Poldip2+/− tissue. Isolated aortas from Poldip2+/− mice demonstrated impaired phenylephrine and potassium chloride–induced contractions, increased stiffness, and reduced compliance associated with disruption of elastic lamellae and excessive extracellular matrix deposition. Collagen I secretion was elevated in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells from Poldip2+/− mice and restored by H2O2 supplementation, suggesting that this novel function of Poldip2 is mediated by reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, Poldip2+/− mice were protected against aortic dilatation in a model of experimental aneurysm, an effect consistent with increased collagen secretion. Conclusions—Poldip2 knockdown reduces H2O2 production in vivo, leading to increases in extracellular matrix, greater vascular stiffness, and impaired agonist-mediated contraction. Thus, unaltered expression of Poldip2 is necessary for vascular integrity and function.

A 3-D constrained mixture model for mechanically mediated vascular growth and remodeling

In contrast to the widely applied approach to model soft tissue remodeling employing the concept of volumetric growth, microstructurally motivated models are capable of capturing many of the underlying mechanisms of growth and remodeling; i.e., the production, removal, and remodeling of individual constituents at different rates and to different extents. A 3-dimensional constrained mixture computational framework has been developed for vascular growth and remodeling, considering new, microstructurally motivated kinematics and constitutive equations and new stress and muscle activation mediated evolution equations. Our computational results for alterations in flow and pressure, using reasonable physiological values for rates of constituent growth and turnover, concur with findings in the literature. For example, for flow-induced remodeling, our simulations predict that, although the wall shear stress is restored completely, the circumferential stress is not restored employing realistic physiological rate parameters. Also, our simulations predict different levels of thickening on inner versus outer wall locations, as shown in numerous reports of pressure-induced remodeling. Whereas the simulations are meant to be illustrative, they serve to highlight the experimental data currently lacking to fully quantify mechanically mediated adaptations in the vasculature.

Endothelial Dysfunction, Arterial Stiffening, and Intima-Media Thickening in Large Arteries from HIV-1 Transgenic Mice

HIV patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) exhibit elevated incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including a higher risk of myocardial infarction and prevalence of atherosclerotic lesions, as well as increases in markers of subclinical atherosclerosis including increased carotid artery intima-media thickness (c-IMT), increased arterial stiffness, and impaired flow-mediated dilation. Both HAART and HIV-infection are independent risk factors for atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction. Studies implicate the HIV proteins tat, gp120, vpu, and nef in early on-set atherosclerosis. The objective of this study was to quantify the role of expression of HIV-1 proteins on the vascular function, biomechanics, and geometry of common carotid arteries and aortas. This study employed NL4-3Δ gag/pol transgenic mice (HIV-Tg), which contain the genetic sequence for the HIV-1 proteins env, tat, nef, rev, vif, vpr, and vpu but lacks the gag and pol genes and reports that HIV-Tg mice have impaired aortic endothelial function, increased c-IMT, and increased arterial stiffness. Further, HIV-Tg arteries show decreased elastin content, increased cathepsin K and cathepsin S activity, and increased mechanical residual stress. Thus, mice that express HIV proteins exhibit pre-clinical markers of atherosclerosis and these markers correlate with changes in markers of vascular remodeling. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that HIV-proteins, independent of HAART treatment or HIV infection, could play a role in of the development of CVD.

Azidothymidine (AZT) leads to arterial stiffening and intima-media thickening in mice

HIV positive patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) have shown elevated incidence of a number of non-AIDS defining co-morbidities, including cardiovascular disease. Given that HAART regimens contain a combination of at least three drugs, that disease management often requires adjustment of these regimens, and HIV, independent of HAART, also plays a role in development of co-morbidities, determining the role of specific HAART drugs and HIV infection itself from clinical data remains challenging. To characterize specific mediators and underlying mechanisms of disease, in vitro and in vivo animal models are required, in parallel with clinical data. Given its low cost azidothymidine (AZT) contributes to the backbone of a large proportion of HAART treated patients in the developing world where much of the global burden of HIV resides. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that AZT can lead to proatherogenic changes including the subclinical markers of arterial stiffening and intima-media thickening in mice. AZT (100mg/kg) or vehicle was administered to wild-type FVB/N mice via oral gavage for 35 days. Cylindrical biaxial biomechanical tests on the common carotid arteries and suprarenal aortas exhibited arterial stiffening in AZT mice compared to controls. Multiphoton microscopy and histology demonstrated that AZT led to increased intima-media thickness. These data correlated with decreased elastin content and increased protease activity as measured by cathepsin zymography; no differences were observed in collagen content or organization, in vivo axial stretch, or opening angle. Thus, this study suggests the drug AZT has significant effects on the development of subclinical markers of atherosclerosis.

Pro-Atherogenic Shear Stress and HIV Proteins Synergistically Upregulate Cathepsin K in Endothelial Cells

Major advances in highly active antiretroviral therapies (HAART) have extended the lives of people living with HIV, but there still remains an increased risk of death by cardiovascular diseases (CVD). HIV proteins have been shown to contribute to cardiovascular dysfunction with effects on the different cell types that comprise the arterial wall. In particular, HIV-1 transactivating factor (Tat) has been shown to bind to endothelial cells inducing a range of responses that contribute to vascular dysfunction. It is well established that hemodynamics also play an important role in endothelial cell mediated atherosclerotic development. When exposed to low or oscillatory shear stress, such as that found at branches and bifurcations, endothelial cells contribute to proteolytic vascular remodeling by upregulating cathepsins, potent elastases and collagenases that contribute to altered biomechanics and plaque formation. Mechanisms to understand the influence of Tat on shear stress mediated vascular remodeling have not been fully elucidated. Using an in vivo HIV-Tg mouse model and an in vitro cone and plate shear stress bioreactor to actuate physiologically relevant pro-atherogenic or atheroprotective shear stress on human aortic endothelial cells, we have shown synergism between HIV proteins and pro-atherogenic shear stress to increase endothelial cell expression of the powerful protease cathepsin K, and may implicate this protease in accelerated CVD in people living with HIV.

The small heat shock protein HSPB1 protects mice from sepsis

In vitro studies have implicated the small heat shock protein HSPB1 in a range of physiological functions. However, its in vivo relevance is unclear as the phenotype of unstressed HSPB1−/− mice is unremarkable. To determine the impact of HSPB1 in injury, HSPB1−/− and wild type (WT) mice were subjected to cecal ligation and puncture, a model of polymicrobial sepsis. Ten-day mortality was significantly higher in HSPB1−/− mice following the onset of sepsis (65% vs. 35%). Ex vivo mechanical testing revealed that common carotid arteries from HSPB1−/− mice were more compliant than those in WT mice over pressures of 50–120 mm Hg. Septic HSPB1−/− mice also had increased peritoneal levels of IFN-γ and decreased systemic levels of IL-6 and KC. There were no differences in frequency of either splenic CD4+ or CD8+ T cells, nor were there differences in apoptosis in either cell type. However, splenic CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells from HSPB1−/− mice produced significantly less TNF and IL-2 following ex vivo stimulation. Systemic and local bacterial burden was similar in HSPB1−/− and WT mice. Thus while HSPB1−/− mice are uncompromised under basal conditions, HSPB1 has a critical function in vivo in sepsis, potentially mediated through alterations in arterial compliance and the immune response.

The Mechanical and Structural Changes in Murine Arteries due to the Antiretroviral Drug Azidothymidine (AZT)

With over 33 million people infected with the human immunodefeciency virus (HIV-1), HIV-1 and autoimmune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a worldwide epidemic [1]. However, the development and widespread use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has helped transform HIV-1 infection from a terminal disease leading to AIDS to a manageable chronic condition. With the increase in life expectancy, a new set of non-AIDS related complications has emerged including dyslipidemia, lipodystrophy, insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) specifically high risks for myocardial infarction[2] and increased incidence of atherosclerosis [3]. Additionally, patients exhibit markers of subclinical atherosclerosis including endothelial dysfunction [4], carotid artery intima-media thickening [5], and arterial stiffening [4, 6].Copyright

Microstructurally Motivated Constitutive Models for Mouse Arteries

Vascular remodeling occurs as cells sense changes in their mechanical environment. Thus, quantifying the cells’ local environment in terms of stress and strain distributions is an important aspect in studies of vascular remodeling. Knowledge of the constitutive behavior of vessel will allow the local stresses and strains to be calculated given applied loads and geometry. The goal of this study is to determine material parameters for several constitutive models by fitting biaxial testing data from mouse carotid arteries cultured under different axial loading conditions [1].Copyright

A 3-D Constrained Mixture Model for Vascular Growth and Remodeling

It is known that arteries adapt and remodel to changes in their loading conditions. Evolution of mechanical properties of blood vessels is associated with numerous chronic and acute conditions such as hypertension and coronary thrombosis. In addition, treatments such as bypass surgery create loading conditions not seen in normal arteries. Blood vessels used in coronary bypass grafts experience abnormal loading conditions in both circumferential and axial directions. Blood vessels remodel by altering structural components to restore homeostatic values of stress. Such changes may include smooth muscle cell proliferation, migration and collagen synthesis, degradation, and remodeling. While biaxial mechanical tests and organ culture experiments provide values for global variables such as mean stresses and total thickness, mathematical models can help describe local mechanical properties at locations throughout the vessel wall. Experimental observations suggest that constituents of arteries turnover at different rates; thus, it is important that models are able to track individual constituents of the artery separately. Here, we present a 3D constrained mixture model for growth and remodeling of arteries exposed to large changes in flow, pressure, and axial stretch -induced.Copyright