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Published on: January 13, 2012
Hemodynamic shear stresses in mouse aortas: implications for atherogenesis
Jin Suo1, Dardo E Ferrara, Dan Sorescu
1Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 225 North Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30332-0360, USA.
Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology
|November 24, 2006
Summary
Wall shear stress (WSS) in mouse aortas differs significantly from humans. However, the distribution of molecules linked to atherosclerosis in mice mirrors human patterns, suggesting relative WSS, not absolute, influences inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Biomedical Engineering
- Atherosclerosis Research
Background:
- Hemodynamics significantly influence vascular disease susceptibility.
- Mouse models are crucial for atherosclerosis research, but their hemodynamic environment is not fully understood.
- Local variations in wall shear stress (WSS) and their comparison to human levels in mouse aortas require investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify WSS values within the mouse aorta.
- To compare mouse aortic WSS to human levels.
- To correlate WSS with the expression of atherosclerosis-associated genes in mice.
Main Methods:
- Developed a computational fluid dynamics model of the mouse aorta using micro-CT and ultrasound data.
- Quantified WSS distribution across the mouse aorta.
- Utilized a quantum dot-based approach to assess vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression.
Main Results:
- Mouse aortic WSS values were found to be substantially higher than those in humans.
- Increased expression of adhesion molecules was observed in regions of lower WSS within the mouse aorta.
- Spatial patterns of atherogenic molecule expression in mice resemble human atherosclerotic plaque localization.
Conclusions:
- Despite species-specific differences in absolute WSS magnitude, relative WSS variations may drive inflammatory responses.
- The findings suggest that the spatial distribution and direction of WSS are critical factors in flow-mediated inflammation.
- Mouse models can effectively recapitulate aspects of human atherosclerosis localization, despite hemodynamic disparities.
