Connective tissue composition of aortas from non-human primates. A comparative study.

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Comparative Pathology
• Cardiovascular Research

Background:

• Atherosclerosis susceptibility varies significantly across primate species.
• Connective tissue composition, including collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), may influence this variation.
• Understanding these differences can provide insights into atherosclerosis pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between aortic connective tissue composition and atherosclerosis susceptibility in non-human primates.
• To determine if GAG content and ratios correlate with species-specific susceptibility to atherosclerosis.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of aortic connective tissue composition (collagen, elastin, GAGs) in various non-human primate species.
• Quantification of specific GAGs, including heparan sulfate (HS), chondroitin sulfates (CS), and dermatan sulfate (DS).
• Comparison of GAG ratios (HS to CS + DS) and collagen to elastin proportions across species.

Main Results:

• Baboons exhibited the highest total GAG content in their aortas.
• Heparan sulfate (HS) was the predominant GAG in most species studied.
• The ratio of HS to CS + DS was lowest in baboons (less susceptible) and highest in squirrel monkeys (highly susceptible).
• The proportion of collagen to elastin was lowest in baboons.

Conclusions:

• A lower ratio of heparan sulfate to chondroitin sulfates plus dermatan sulfate in the aorta correlates with reduced susceptibility to atherosclerosis.
• Connective tissue composition, particularly GAG ratios and collagen-to-elastin proportions, plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
• Primate species can be ranked by decreasing atherosclerosis susceptibility based on HS to CS + DS ratios: squirrel, chimpanzee, stump-tailed, rhesus, African green, patas, baboon.