Blood flow patterns spatially associated with platelet aggregates in murine colitis
Lino F Miele1, Aslihan Turhan, Grace S Lee
1Laboratory of Adaptive and Regenerative Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Anatomical Record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007)
|August 1, 2009
Summary
Platelet aggregation in the inflamed gut contributes to abnormal blood flow patterns during colitis. This study reveals how inflammatory mediators activate platelets, causing flow disruptions in the murine mucosal plexus.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Vascular Biology
- Inflammation Research
Background:
- Normal murine mucosal plexus exhibits smooth, continuous blood flow.
- Inflammatory conditions like colitis cause abnormal, variable, and discontinuous blood flow patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate mechanisms behind abnormal blood flow in murine colitis.
- Examine the role of platelet aggregation in flow dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Intravital microscopy of murine mucosal plexus during induced colitis (DSS and TNBS).
- Analysis of blood flow patterns, including flow exclusion and velocity variations.
- Intravascular platelet injection and gene expression profiling of microdissected tissue.
Main Results:
- 18% of vessel segments showed flow exclusion, linked to velocity variations.
- Rolling platelet aggregates were observed, causing reversible occlusions and flow variations.
- Upregulation of inflammatory genes (CCL3, CXCL1, CCL2, CXCL5, CCL7, CCL8, Il-1b) and downregulation of CCL6.
Conclusions:
- Platelet aggregation, triggered by inflammation, significantly contributes to complex blood flow dynamics in acute murine colitis.
- Findings highlight the interplay between inflammation, platelets, and vascular function in colitis.
