京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第24966号 / 医博第5020号 / 新制||医||1069(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 江木 盛時, 教授 浅野 雅秀, 教授 湊谷 謙司 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第24789号 / 医博第4981号 / 新制||医||1066(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 江木 盛時, 教授 湊谷 謙司, 教授 花川 隆 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

Cells in the body interact with a predominantly fibrous microenvironment and constantly adapt to changes in their neighboring physiochemical environment, which has implications in developmental and disease biology. A myriad of in vitro platforms including 2D flat and 3D gel substrates with and without anisotropy have demonstrated cellular alterations to subtle changes in topography. Recently, our work using suspended fibers as a new in vitro biological assay has revealed that cells are able to sense and respond to changes in fiber curvature and structural stiffness as evidenced by alterations to cytoskeleton arrangement, including focal adhesion cluster lengths and nucleus shape indices, leading to altered migration speeds. It is hypothesized that these behaviors occur due to modulation of cellular inside-out forces in response to changes in the external fibrous environment (outside-in). Thus, in this study, we investigate the role of fiber curvature and structural stiffness in force modulation of single cells attached to suspended fibers. Using our previously reported non-electrospinning Spinneret based Tunable Engineered Parameters (STEP) fiber manufacturing platform, we present our findings on single cell inside-out and outside-in forces using fibers of three diameters (250 nm, 400 nm and 800 nm) representing a wide range of structural stiffness (3-45 nN/μm). To investigate cellular adaptability to external perturbation, we present the development of a first-of-its-kind force measurement 'nanonet' platform capable of investigating cell adhesion forces in response to symmetric and non-symmetric (injury model) loading. Our combined findings are multi-fold: (i) Cells on suspended fibers are able to form focal adhesion clusters approximately four times longer than those on flat substrates, which gives them potential to double their migration speeds, (ii) Nanonets as force probes show that the contractility-based inside-out forces are nearly equally distributed on both sides of the cell body, and that overall force magnitudes are dependent on fiber structural stiffness, and (iii) External perturbation can evenly (symmetric) or unevenly (non-symmetric) distribute forces within the cell, and the resulting bias causes diameter-dependent outside-in adhesion force response. Finally, we demonstrate the power of the developed force measurement platform by extending our studies to cell-cell junctional forces as well as single-cell disease models including cancer and aortic aneurysm. / Ph. D.

An intracranial aneurysm (IA) is a balloon-like focal lesion on the cerebral arterial wall. IAs are poorly understood, but are commonly considered to be a disease caused by multiple factors. Current interventional treatments are accompanied with risks. Given the low incidence of rupture, it would be ideal to only treat aneurysms identified with rupture risk. Numerical models of aneurysm development may provide insight into the disease mechanisms, and contribute to the prediction of disease progression. Better understanding of the disease aetiology will also guide clinical decision making. Different hypotheses have been proposed on the influence of haemodynamic stimuli on IA inception. We investigate this influence by examining the haemodynamic stimuli of the 'pre-aneurysmal' vasculature in the locations of IA formation in 22 clinical cases. The 'pre aneurysmal' geometries are obtained by applying a novel numerical vessel reconstruction method on the aneurysmal geometries. This automated reconstruction method propagates a closed curve along the vessel skeleton using the local Frenet frames to smoothly morph the upstream boundary into the downstream boundary. We observe that locally elevated wall shear stress (WSS) and gradient oscillatory number (GON) are highly correlated with regions susceptible to sidewall IA formation, whilst haemodynamic indices associated with the oscillation of the WSS vectors have much lower correlations. A common assumption made in the literature on arterial growth and remodelling (G&R) is that the 'state of stretch' (denoted as the attachment stretch) at which collagen fibres are configured in the extracellular matrix (ECM) is assumed to be constant. This will lead to an unrealistically thickened arterial wall in modelling aneurysm evolution. We propose a novel 1D mathematical model of collagen microstructural adaption during IA evolution. We assume new collagen fibres are configured into the ECM in a state of attachment stretch distribution which can be temporally adaptive. We explicitly define the functional form of this distribution and model its temporal adaption during IA evolution. This model is then implemented into two 3D models of IA evolution: a solid structural model and Fluid-Solid-Growth (FSG) model. In the solid structural model, the artery is modelled as a two-layer, nonlinear elastic cylindrical membrane using a physiologically realistic constitutive model. The development of the aneurysm is considered as a consequence of the growth and remodelling of its material constituents: elastinous constituents are prescribed to degrade in a localised circular patch; collagen concentration and recruitment variables enable the growth and remodelling of collagen fabric to be simulated; adaption of the attachment stretch distribution is confined locally within the region of aneurysm evolution. The sophisticated solid model predicts stabilised saccular IAs with realistic sizes and wall thicknesses. The FSG model simulates the IA development on patient-specific vasculature: the updated 3D solid structural model is integrated into a patient-specific geometry of the vasculature and the growth and remodelling of the constituents is now linked to the local haemodynamic stimuli obtained from a rigid-wall computational fluid dynamics analysis. Adaption of the attachment stretch distribution is also confined locally in the region where the constituents degrade. An illustrative case of IA development on patient specific geometry is provided. Based on our study, we conclude that incorporating the adaption of attachment stretch distribution is necessary to simulate IA evolution with physiological evolving wall thicknesses. However, how vascular cells confine this adaption heterogeneously needs further investigation. Improved understanding and modelling of the biology of the arterial wall is needed for more sophisticated models of aneurysm evolution. It will in turn assist in understanding the aetiology of IA formation. Ultimately we hope to have a patient-specific growth model that could have the potential be used to assist diagnostic decisions.

Introdução: O aneurisma de aorta abdominal (AAA) é uma importante causa de morbimortalidade na população idosa. O tratamento endovascular está associado a menor morbimortalidade que o tratamento convencional, no entanto, necessita de um seguimento rigoroso com exames de imagem contrastados para confirmação da exclusão do saco aneurismático. Considerando que a formação de um aneurisma é um processo multifatorial complexo, envolvendo a remodelação destrutiva do tecido conjuntivo em todo o segmento afetado da parede da aorta e que este processo envolve uma inflamação crônica local, uma diminuição no número de células do músculo liso da túnica média, e fragmentação da matriz extracelular da aorta e ainda que um perfil de expressão aberrante de miRNAs tem sido associada a doenças humanas, incluindo disfunção cardiovascular propôs-se então a realização deste estudo envolvendo todo este processo. O objetivo principal foi quantificar e avaliar a resposta da expressão dos miRNAs à correção endovascular de aneurisma de aorta abdominal com base em dosagens séricas no seguimento de seis meses. População e Método: Foram recrutados 30 pacientes consecutivos com AAA sem outras doenças inflamatórias associadas, do Ambulatório de Cirurgia Vascular e Endovascular do HCFMRPUSP com indicação de tratamento endovascular. Foram escolhidos para estudo e dosagens séricas os miRNA-191 e miRNA-455-3p. A expressão diferencial dos miRNAs foi realizada pelo método de PCR em tempo real, após extração do RNA das amostras de sangue total em dois momentos, pré- operatório e após 6 meses de pós-operatório. Além disso, ferramentas de bioinformática foram utilizadas para determinar vias fisiopatológicas relacionadas ao AAA. Foram Colhidos dados de perfil demográfico, de seguimento clinico e exames de imagem com angiotomografia no pré-operatórios e após 6 meses. Resultados: Foi observado uma hiperexpressão dos miR-191 e miR-455-3p no sangue total dos pacientes com AAA. O tratamento endovascular dos pacientes com AAA resultou em diminuição significativa das expressões dos miRNAs estudados, indicando que a exclusão do saco aneurismático altera as expressões dos mesmos. Adicionalmente, as expressões dos miR-191 e miR-455-3p não apresentaram correlação com o diâmetro do aneurisma e a análise da influência dos diversos tipos de dispositivos utilizados para o tratamento endovascular dos AAA, não mostrou diferenças significativas nas expressões dos miR-191 e miR-455-3p. Conclusões: A hiperexpressão dos miR-191 e miR-455-3p com sua significativa redução apos o tratamento endovascular, pode sugerir a utilização dessas moléculas como potenciais biomarcadores no seguimento desses pacientes. Novos estudos com maior número de casos devem ser realizados com o objetivo de validar os dados obtidos incluindo pacientes com eventuais vazamentos. / Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly population. Endovascular treatment is associated with lower morbidity and mortality than conventional treatment, however, it requires a rigorous follow-up with contrast imaging tests to confirm the aneurysmal sac exclusion. Considering that the formation of an aneurysm is a complex multifactorial process, involving the destructive remodeling of the connective tissue throughout the affected segment of the aortic wall and that this process involves a chronic local inflammation, a decrease in the number of smooth muscle cells of the media tunic, and fragmentation of the extracellular matrix of the aorta and although an aberrant expression profile of miRNAs has been associated with human diseases, including cardiovascular dysfunction, it was proposed to carry out this study involving this whole process. The main objective was to quantify and evaluate miRNA expression response to endovascular correction of abdominal aortic aneurysm based on serum dosages at the six-month follow-up. Population and Method: We recruited 30 consecutive patients with AAA without other associated inflammatory diseases from the Ambulatory of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery of the HCFMRPUSP with indication of endovascular treatment. The miRNA-191 and miRNA-455-3p were selected for study and serum dosages. The differential expression of the miRNAs was performed by the real-time PCR method, after extraction of RNA from the whole blood samples at two moments, preoperatively and after 6 months of follow-up. In addition, bioinformatics tools were used to determine pathophysiological pathways related to AAA. Demographic profile, clinical follow-up and imaging examinations with angiotomography performed in the preoperative period and after 6 months were collected. Results: Hyperexpression of miR-191 and miR-455-3p in whole blood of AAA patients was observed. The endovascular treatment of patients with AAA resulted in a significant decrease in the expression of the miRNAS studied, indicating that the exclusion of the aneurysmal sac altered their expression. In addition, the expression of miR-191 and miR-455-3p showed no correlation with the diameter of the aneurysm and analysis of the influence of the various types of devices used for the endovascular treatment of AAA did not show significant differences in the expression of miR-191 And miR-455-3p. Conclusions: The hyperexpression of miR- 191 and miR-455-3p with its significant reduction after endovascular treatment may suggest the use of these molecules as potential biomarkers in the follow-up of these patients. New studies with a greater number of cases should be performed with the objective of validating the data obtained including patients with possible endoleaks.

Crossing of stent graft limbs during endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is often used to assist cannulation and prevent graft kinking when the aortic bifurcation is widely splayed. Little has been reported about the implications of cross-limb EVAR, especially in comparison to conventional EVAR. Using computational fluid dynamics, this work numerically examines the hemodynamic differences between these two out-of-plane stent graft configurations against a planar configuration commonly found in literature. Predicted values of displacement force, wall shear stress, and oscillatory shear index were similar between the out-of-plane configurations. The planar configuration predicted similar wall shear stress values, but significantly lower displacement forces than the out-of-plane configurations. These results suggest that the hemodynamic safety of cross-limb EVAR is comparable to conventional EVAR. However, a study of clinical outcomes may reveal reduced thrombosis incidence and long-term structural implications for the stent graft in cross-limb EVAR.

Crossing of stent graft limbs during endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is often used to assist cannulation and prevent graft kinking when the aortic bifurcation is widely splayed. Little has been reported about the implications of cross-limb EVAR, especially in comparison to conventional EVAR. Using computational fluid dynamics, this work numerically examines the hemodynamic differences between these two out-of-plane stent graft configurations against a planar configuration commonly found in literature. Predicted values of displacement force, wall shear stress, and oscillatory shear index were similar between the out-of-plane configurations. The planar configuration predicted similar wall shear stress values, but significantly lower displacement forces than the out-of-plane configurations. These results suggest that the hemodynamic safety of cross-limb EVAR is comparable to conventional EVAR. However, a study of clinical outcomes may reveal reduced thrombosis incidence and long-term structural implications for the stent graft in cross-limb EVAR.

Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka samband mellan bukaorta aneurysm hos 65-åriga män och riskfaktorer såsom rökning, BMI>25, kosttillskott, hypertoni, hyperlipidemi, ett stillasittande yrke samt hereditet. Kvantitativ ansats med deskriptiv och korrelativ design användes, 3854 65-åriga män från två årskullar som screenats för AAA ingick och uppgifter hämtades från ett dataregister. Resultat: Antalet personer med bukaorta aneurysm var 2,4 %, 65 % var/hade varit rökare, 67 % hade övervikt, 49 % stillasittande arbete, 41 % hypertoni, 25 % hyperlipidemi, 17 % åt kosttillskott och 4 % hade hereditet. Rökning, hypertoni och hyperlipidemi visade signifikant samband med och ökade risken för att utveckla AAA. Störst riskfaktor var rökning. Övriga riskfaktorer visade inte signifikant betydelse. Riskfaktorerna tillsammans förklarade variationen i AAA med 5 %. Konklusion: Tidigare kända riskfaktorers betydelse bekräftades för uppkomst av AAA. För män med AAA ses ett behov av hälsoförebyggande insatser. Sjuksköterskan har ansvar för och kunskaper om preventiva åtgärder, kan och bör därför användas som stöd till män med nyupptäckt AAA.

Background: Scoring models are widely established in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, the importance in patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA) remains unclear. Our aim was to analyze scoring systems as predictors of survival in patients undergoing open surgical repair (OSR) for RAAA. Methods: This is a retrospective study in critically ill patients in a surgical ICU at a university hospital. Sixty-eight patients with RAAA were treated between February 2005 and June 2013. Serial measurements of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (SOFA), Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II) and Simplified Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System-28 (TISS-28) were evaluated with respect to in-hospital mortality. Eleven patients had to be excluded from this study because 6 underwent endovascular repair and 5 died before they could be admitted to the ICU. Results: All patients underwent OSR. The initial, highest, and mean of SOFA and SAPS II scores correlated significant with in-hospital mortality. In contrast, TISS-28 was inferior and showed a smaller area under the receiver operating curve. The cut-off point for SOFA showed the best performance in terms of sensitivity and specificity. An initial SOFA score below 9 predicted an in-hospital mortality of 16.2% (95% CI, 4.3–28.1) and a score above 9 predicted an in-hospital mortality of 73.7% (95% CI, 53.8–93.5, p < 0.01). Trend analysis showed the largest effect on SAPS II. When the score increased or was unchanged within the first 48 h (score >45), the in-hospital mortality rate was 85.7% (95% CI, 67.4–100, p < 0.01) versus 31.6% (95% CI, 10.7–52.5, p = 0.01) when it decreased. On multiple regression analysis, only the mean of the SOFA score showed a significant predictive capacity with regards to mortality (odds ratio 1.77; 95% CI, 1.19–2.64; p < 0.01). Conclusion: SOFA and SAPS II scores were able to predict in-hospital mortality in RAAA within 48 h after OSR. According to cut-off points, an increase or decrease in SOFA and SAPS II scores improved sensitivity and specificity.

The etiology of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is characterized by localized extracellular matrix remodeling and vessel dilation. Population-based studies have shown that AAA account for nearly 1% of all deaths. This thesis seeks to identify the earliest molecular and biomechanical determinants of aneurysm formation. Our initial motivator was the lack of information defining the underlying mechanisms of AAA formation. We used isolated vessel testing and histological analysis to study the mechanical and morphological evolution of AAA. These factors were measured in murine models of reproducible AAA formation. From this study, we determined 1) that molecular events precede mechanical events in AAA progression and 2) aortic circumferential mechanics are well conserved during AAA pathogenesis. Next we sought to explore the mechanistic link between oxidative stress and AAA development. To determine this relationship we used isolated vessel testing as well as measurement of aortic residual circumferential strain. To isolate the role of oxidative stress in these studies we used a line of transgenic mice with vascular smooth muscle cell-specific overexpression of the antioxidant catalase. The results of this study suggest that oxidative stress-mediated elastin degeneration within the aortic media is etiologic of altered aortic mechanics. Lastly, we sought to determine the independent mechanical contribution of the aortic adventitia and media tunica to overall aortic behavior. To accomplish this goal we compared the circumferential and axial mechanical behavior of aortas with and without collagenase treatment. The data demonstrated that the adventitia regulates the circumferential behavior of the aorta by preventing overstretch and the media regulates the axial behavior by maintaining tensile loading. This thesis demonstrates 1) that detecting early aneurysm progression in the form of mechanical or geometric changes may miss the window in which aneurysm pathology may be potentially reversed, 2) that mitigating oxidative stress within the aortic wall may provide protection against AAA, and 3) the adventitia is an important load bearing constituent of the arterial wall and plays a role in vascular adaptation to altered mechanical states. Overall our results impact understanding of early aneurysmal pathogenesis and may facilitate the development of preventative therapies for AAA progression and rupture.