Parameter sensitivity study of a constrained mixture model of arterial growth and remodeling

Computational models of arterial growth and remodeling promise to increase our understanding of basic biological processes, such as development, tissue maintenance, and aging, the biomechanics of functional adaptation, the progression and treatment of disease, responses to injuries, and even the design of improved replacement vessels and implanted medical devices. Ensuring reliability of and confidence in such models requires appropriate attention to verification and validation, including parameter sensitivity studies. In this paper, we classify different types of parameters within a constrained mixture model of arterial growth and remodeling; we then evaluate the sensitivity of model predictions to parameter values that are not known directly from experiments for cases of modest sustained alterations in blood flow and pressure as well as increased axial extension. Particular attention is directed toward complementary roles of smooth muscle vasoactivity and matrix turnover, with an emphasis on mechanosensitive changes in the rates of turnover of intramural fibrillar collagen and smooth muscle in maturity. It is shown that vasoactive changes influence the rapid change in caliber that is needed to maintain wall shear stress near its homeostatic level and the longer term changes in wall thickness that are needed to maintain circumferential wall stress near its homeostatic target. Moreover, it is shown that competing effects of intramural and wall shear stress-regulated rates of turnover can develop complex coupled responses. Finally, results demonstrate that the sensitivity to parameter values depends upon the type of perturbation from normalcy, with changes in axial stretch being most sensitive consistent with empirical reports.