Journal of Applied Physiology
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     


J Appl Physiol (September 4, 2008). doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.90563.2008
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF) Free
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
105/5/1610    most recent
90563.2008v1
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Shifren, A.
Right arrow Articles by Mecham, R. P.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Shifren, A.
Right arrow Articles by Mecham, R. P.
Submitted on April 23, 2008
Revised on August 16, 2008
Accepted on September 2, 2008

Elastin Insufficiency Predisposes to Elevated Pulmonary Circulatory Pressures Through Changes in Elastic Artery Structure

Adrian Shifren1*, Anthony G. Durmowicz1, Russell H. Knutsen2, Gilles Faury3, and Robert P. Mecham2

1 Wasington University School of Medicine
2 Washington University School of Medicine
3 University Joseph Fourier

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ashifren{at}CellBiology.wustl.edu.

Elastin is a major structural component of large elastic arteries and a principal determinant of arterial biomechanical properties. Elastin loss of function mutations in humans have been linked to the autosomal dominant disease supravalvular aortic stenosis, which is characterized by stenotic lesions in both the systemic and pulmonary circulations. To better understand how elastin insufficiency influences the pulmonary circulation, we evaluated pulmonary cardiovascular physiology in a unique set of transgenic and knockout mice with graded vascular elastin dosage (range 45-120% of wild-type). The central pulmonary arteries of elastin-insufficient mice had smaller internal diameters (P< 0.0001), thinner walls (P= 0.002), and increased opening angles (P= 0.002) compared to WT controls. Pulmonary circulatory pressures, measured by right ventricular catheterization, were significantly elevated in elastin insufficient mice (P< 0.0001) and showed an inverse correlation with elastin level. Although elastin-insufficient animals exhibited mild to moderate right ventricular hypertrophy (P= 0.0001) and intrapulmonary vascular remodeling, the changes were less than expected given the high right ventricular pressures and were attenuated when compared with those seen in hypoxia-induced models of pulmonary arterial hypertension. The absence of extensive pathological cardiac remodeling at the high pressures in these animals suggests a developmental adaptation designed to maintain right-sided cardiac output in a vascular system with altered elastin content.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Bio.Home page
L. Carta, J. E. Wagenseil, R. H. Knutsen, B. Mariko, G. Faury, E. C. Davis, B. Starcher, R. P. Mecham, and F. Ramirez
Discrete Contributions of Elastic Fiber Components to Arterial Development and Mechanical Compliance
Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, December 1, 2009; 29(12): 2083 - 2089.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Physiol. Rev.Home page
J. E. Wagenseil and R. P. Mecham
Vascular Extracellular Matrix and Arterial Mechanics
Physiol Rev, July 1, 2009; 89(3): 957 - 989.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]




HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
Visit Other APS Journals Online
Copyright © 1948 by the American Physiological Society.