Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2005. / Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center; full text release delayed at author's request until 2006 Aug 15.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Houston, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 100-110). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Houston, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 100-110).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2007. / Description based on contents viewed June 24, 2007; title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references (p. 76-80).

Η εκφυλιστική στένωση της αορτικής βαλβίδας και τα οξέα στεφανιαία σύνδρομα αποτελούν τις σημαντικότερες αιτίες θανάτου από καρδιαγγειακά νοσήματα. Είναι τεκμηριωμένο ότι ο ρόλος της ασβεστοποίησης στην παθοφυσιολογία των ανωτέρω νοσημάτων είναι σημαντικός και αναμφισβήτητος. Μέχρι πρόσφατα θεωρούταν ότι η ασβεστοποίηση αποτελεί παθητική διαδικασία εναπόθεσης αλάτων ασβεστίου σε ιστούς που έχουν υποστεί κάποιου βαθμού βλάβη. Ωστόσο τελευταία δεδομένα υποδεικνύουν ότι πρόκειται για ενορχηστρωμένη διαδικασία που έχει ως αποτέλεσμα την κυτταρική διαφοροποίηση και την ενεργοποίηση μεταγραφικών παραγόντων που σχετίζονται με τον οστίτη ιστό. Προκειμένου να τεκμηριώσουμε την άποψη ότι η ασβεστοποίηση των αορτικών βαλβίδων και στεφανιαίων αρτηριών στηρίζεται σε μία ενεργό διαδικασία που περιλαμβάνει την ενεργοποίηση χονδρο – οστεογενών οδών, μελετήσαμε ανοσοϊστοχημικά για πρώτη φορά την έκφραση των παραγόντων NFATc1 και Osterix. Επιπρόσθετα, διερευνήσαμε άλλα χαρακτηριστικά του προγράμματος οστεογενούς και χονδρογενούς διαφοροποίησης όπως την έκφραση των παραγόντων OPG, RANKL, RANK, Runx2 και Sox9 καθώς και τη συμμετοχή της φλεγμονής, της νεοαγγείωσης και της υπερπλασίας κυττάρων που εκφράζουν α - SMA. Στην παρούσα ερευνητική εργασία τεκμηριώνεται για πρώτη φορά η συμμετοχή των βασικών ρυθμιστικών παραγόντων των οστών NFATc1 και Osterix στη διαδικασία ασβεστοποίησης των αορτικών βαλβίδων και των στεφανιαίων αρτηριών στον άνθρωπο. Επιπρόσθετα, επιβεβαιώνεται η συμβολή των παραγόντων Runx2 και Sox9 στη δημιουργία αποτιτανώσεων στους συγκεκριμένους ιστούς. Οι αλλαγές στην έκφραση του συμπλέγματος OPG/RANKL/RANK σχετίζονται με την ασβεστοποίηση της αορτικής βαλβίδας. Αντίθετα, το προφίλ έκφρασης του συμπλέγματος δεν είναι σταθερό στις στεφανιαίες αρτηρίες επιβεβαιώνοντας αντικρουόμενα αποτελέσματα προηγούμενων μελετών. Τέλος, επιβεβαιώνεται η συμμετοχή της φλεγμονής, της νεοαγγείωσης και της υπερπλασίας των κυττάρων με συσταλτικό φαινότυπο στην εξέλιξη της παθοφυσιολογικής διεργασίας. Από την παρούσα μελέτη διαπιστώνουμε ότι η διαδικασία της ασβεστοποίησης στις αορτικές βαλβίδες και τις στεφανιαίες αρτηρίες παρουσιάζει αρκετές ομοιότητες με την οστεογένεση. Αυτό συνεπάγεται ευοίωνες προοπτικές για δυνητική γονιδιακή παρέμβαση σε πρώιμα στάδια που θα μπορούσε να οδηγήσει σε αναστροφή της παθοφυσιολογικής διαδικασίας εναπόθεσης ασβεστίου. / Degenerative aortic stenosis and acute coronary syndromes constitute major causes of cardiovascular morbidity. There is evidence that calcification plays significant role in pathophysiology of these diseases. Until recently, calcification was considered to be a passive process of calcium deposition in injured tissue. However, recent data suggest that calcification of aortic valves and coronary arteries is an active process related to cellular differentiation and transcription of bone regulators. In order to provide further evidence that aortic valve and coronary artery calcification is an active process involving chondro-osteogenic pathways, we investigated using immunohistochemistry the expression of NFATc1 and Osterix in human calcified aortic valves and coronary arteries, which to the best of our knowledge has not been reported previously. Additionally, we investigated in our specimens other features of chondro/osteogenic differentiation program such as the expression of OPG, RANKL, RANK, Runx2 and Sox9, and the participation of inflammation, neovessel formation and hyperplasia of α - SMA positive cells in calcification process. Our results provide evidence for the involvement of bone regulatory factors NFATc1 and Osterix in aortic valve and coronary artery calcification process in human. In addition, we confirm Runx2 and Sox9 expression in diseased specimens. Expression pattern of OPG / RANKL / RANK system is related to aortic valve calcification. Consistently with previous reports, the role of OPG / RANKL / RANK system in coronary artery calcification is not clear. Finally, our study confirms involvement of inflammation, neovessel formation and hyperplasia of α - SMA positive cells in calcification process. Present study demonstrates that aortic valve and coronary artery calcification is actually an active process sharing features with developmental osteogenesis. This fact implies promising prospects for potential genetic intervention in early stages that could lead to inhibition of calcification process.

Regelmäßige körperliche Aktivität verlangsamt die Progression arteriosklerotischer Läsionen, reduziert oxidativen Stress und erhöht die Bioverfügbarkeit von Stickstoffmonoxid. Von diesen Vorgängen erwartet man auch eine Verbesserung des Outcomes bei degenerativen Aortenklappenerkrankungen. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es den Effekt von körperlicher Aktivität im Sinne einer Primärprävention auf die Ausbildung einer Aortenklappensklerose, die ein frühes Stadium in der Entwicklung einer Aortenklappenstenose darstellt, mit ihrem zu Grunde liegendem Pathomechanismus zu untersuchen. Hierfür wurde das Tiermodell der LDL-Rezeptor-knockout-Maus gewählt, da bereits in Studien die regelhafte Induktion von Aortenklappensklerosen und hämodynamisch relevante Stenosen durch cholesterinreiche Nahrung gezeigt werden konnte. Für die vorliegende Studie wurden 4 Wochen alte LDL-Rezeptor-knockout-Mäuse in 4 Gruppen randomisiert: Eine Kontroll-Gruppe mit normaler Diät und bewegungsarmen Lebensstil, eine Cholesterin-Gruppe mit cholesterinreicher Ernährung und bewegungsarmen Lebensstil, eine regelmäßige Trainingsgruppe mit cholesterinreicher Ernährung und regelmäßiger körperlicher Aktivität (60 min/d, 5 Tage/Woche) und eine gelegentlichen Trainingsgruppe, mit cholesterinreicher Ernähung und körperlicher Aktivität (60 min/d, 1 Tag/Woche) für jeweils 16 Wochen. In der 20. Woche wurden histologische Untersuchungen vorgenommen, die Verdickungen der Aortenklappen in der Cholesterin-Gruppe verglichen zur Kontroll-Gruppe zeigten. Regelmäßige, jedoch keine gelegentliche körperliche Aktivität reduziert signifikant diese Verdickung der Aortenklappe. Die immunhistochemischen Untersuchungen zeigten, dass eine Cholesterin-Diät die Endothelintegrität der Aortenklappe zerstört, wohingegen sie durch regelmäßige körperliche Aktivität geschützt wird. Weiterhin zeigte sich eine Erhöhung der Serum-Myeloperoxidase, der oxidierten Low Density Lipoproteine, der in situ Superoxide, als Marker für oxidativen Stress. Es konnten erhöhte Spiegel für Mac3, als Marker für Makrophagenakkumulation, α-smooth muscle actin, als Marker für Klappenfibrose und der proosteogene Marker Alkalische Phosphatase sowie eine erhöhte Mineralisation in der Cholesterin-Gruppe nachgewiesen werden. Wohingegen die genannten Marker in der Gruppe mit regelmäßiger körperlicher Aktivität erniedrigt nachgewiesen werden konnten. Die Ergebnisse der Polymerase-Kettenreaktion ergaben eine erhöhte Expression der messenger-RNA für α-smooth muscle actin, bone morphogentic protein-2, runt- related transcription factor-2 und Alkalische Phosphatase, als Marker für Klappenfibrose und Proosteogenese in der Cholesterin-Gruppe, dagegen waren sie durch regelmäßige körperliche Aktivität erniedrigt. Darüber hinaus erhöht regelmäßige körperliche Aktivität signifikant die Spiegel von zirkulierendem Fetuin-A, als Hemmstoff der Kalzifizierung verglichen zur Cholesterin-Gruppe. Schlussfolgernd lässt sich sagen, dass regelmäßige, jedoch keine gelegentliche körperliche Aktivität einer Aortenklappensklerose im Sinne einer Primärprävention durch eine Anzahl von Mechanismen, wie dem Schutz der Endothelintegrität, der Reduktion von Inflammation und oxidativem Stress sowie der Hemmung des osteogenen Signalweges, vorbeugt.

Orientador: Winston Bonetti Yoshida / Banca: Regina Moura / Banca: Carlos Eli Piccinato / Resumo: A migração da endoprótese é uma complicação do tratamento endovascular definida como deslocamento de sua ancoragem inicial. Para avaliação da migração verifica-se a posição da endoprótese em relação à determinada região anatômica. Considerando o aneurisma da aorta abdominal infra-renal, a área proximal de referência consiste na origem da artéria renal mais baixa e, na região distal, situa-se nas artérias ilíacas internas. Os pacientes deverão ser monitorizados por longos períodos a fim de serem identificadas migrações visto que estas ocorrem normalmente após 2 anos de implante. Para se evitarem migrações, forças mecânicas que propiciam fixação e determinadas por características dos dispositivos e a incorporação da endoprótese, devem predominar sobre forças gravitacional e hemodinâmica que tendem a arrastar a prótese no sentido caudal. Angulação, extensão e diâmetro do colo, além da medida transversa do saco aneurismático, são importantes aspectos morfológicos do aneurisma relacionados à migração. Com relação à técnica, o implante de endopróteses com sobredimensionamento excessivo (>30%) não é recomendado por provocar dilatação do colo do aneurisma, além de dobras e vazamentos proximais que também contribuem para migração. Por outro lado, endopróteses com mecanismos adicionais de fixação (ganchos, farpas e fixação supra-renal) parecem estar menos associadas às migrações. O processo de incorporação das endopróteses ocorre parcialmente e parece não ser suficiente para impedir migrações tardias. Neste sentido, estudos experimentais com endopróteses de maior porosidade e uso de substâncias que permitam maior fibroplasia e aderência da prótese à artéria vem sendo realizados e parecem ser promissores. Nesta revisão estes aspectos serão discutidos, em especial o uso da cola de fibrina. / Abstract: Migration of the endoprosthesis is a complication of the endovascular treatment defined as misplacement of its initial fixation. In order to assess such migration, one shall verify the position of the endoprosthesis in relation to the determined anatomic site. Considering the aneurysm of the infra-renal abdominal aorta, the proximal area of reference consists on the origin of the lowest renal artery and, at the distal region, it is located next to the internal iliac arteries. Patients shall be monitored for long periods so that migrations can be spotted; these migrations usually occur 2 years after the implant. To avoid migration mechanical forces that enable fixation and that are determined by features of devices as well as the incorporation of the endoprosthesis have to predominate over gravitational and hemodynamic forces, which tend to drag the prosthesis toward to caudal direction. Angulation, extension and diameter of the neck, and transversal measure of the aneurysmatic sac, are important morphological aspects related to migration. In relation to technique, the implant of endoprosthesis with excessive oversizing (>30%) is not recommended because it leads to aortic neck dilatation, folds and proximal leaking witch contribute to its migration. On the other hand, endoprosthesis with additional fixation devices (hooks, barbs and supra-renal fixation) seem to be less associated with migration. The process of incorporation of the endoprosthesis occurs partially and does not seem to be enough to prevent later migrations. In this sense, experimental assessment with higher porosity endoprosthesis as well as the use of substances that allow higher fibroplasia and adherence of the prosthesis to the artery have been made and look promising. In this review, such aspects are discussed, specially the use of fibrin glue. / Doutor

Branchial arches (BAs) are a series of transient structures that develop on the ventro-lateral surface of the head in vertebrate embryos. BAs initially appear as a series of similar segments; as development proceeds each BA will contribute to different structures. Here, it was investigated the transcriptional mechanisms that instruct the different fates of the BAs in development. Initially, each BA contains a blood vessel, known as aortic arch (AA) artery, that connects the dorsal aorta with the heart. Remodelling of the AAs is crucial to form the adult heart circulation. This process leads to regression of the anterior AAs, running though the first and second BAs (BA1 and BA2), and persistence of the AAs contained in more posterior BAs (PBA). To identify the mechanisms that control remodelling of the AAs, we compared the transcriptomes and epigenomic landscapes of different BAs. Using RNA-seq and H3K27Ac ChIP-seq, we uncovered the activation of a vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) differentiation transcriptional program exclusively in the PBAs (and not in BA1/BA2). In support of this finding, we show that VSMC differentiation occurs specifically in the PBAs, but not BA1-2 in mouse embryonic development. Despite the absence of VSMC differentiation in developing BA1-2, cells harvested from these tissues reveal a spontaneous tendency to differentiate towards VSMC fate when grown in vitro, and activate several VSMC-specific genes (Myocd, Acta2, Tagln, Jag1). Together, our results suggest that forming VSMCs is a key process for the persistence of AAs. We also showed that cells derived from all BAs have the potential to differentiate to VSMCs in vitro. However, only cells in the PBAs differentiate to VSMCs in vivo, resulting in the maintenance of posterior AAs. In this study, we also uncovered a novel transcriptional principle that specifies the fate of BA2. Using ChIP-seq, we found that binding of Meis transcription factors establish a ground pattern in the BAs. Hoxa2, which specifies BA2 identity, selects a subset of Meis-bound sites. Meis binding is strongly increased at these sites, which coincide with active enhancers, linked to genes highly expressed in the BA2 and regulated by Hoxa2. Thus, Hoxa2 modifies a ground state binding of Meis to instruct segment-specific transcriptional programs.

BACKGROUND Aortic stenosis is a common and potentially fatal condition in which fibro-calcific changes within the valve leaflets lead to the obstruction of blood flow. Severe symptomatic stenosis is an indication for aortic valve replacement and timely referral is essential to prevent adverse clinical events. Calcification is believed to represent the central process driving disease progression. 18F-Fluoride positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET-CT) and CT aortic valve calcium scoring (CT-AVC) quantify calcification activity and burden respectively. The overarching aim of this thesis was to evaluate the applications of these techniques to the study and management of aortic stenosis. METHODS AND RESULTS REPRODUCIBILITY The scan-rescan reproducibility of 18F-fluoride PET-CT and CT-AVC were investigated in 15 patients with mild, moderate and severe aortic stenosis who underwent repeated 18F-fluoride PET-CT scans 3.9±3.3 weeks apart. Modified techniques enhanced image quality and facilitated clear localization of calcification activity. Percentage error was reduced from ±63% to ±10% (tissue-to-background ratio most-diseased segment (MDS) mean of 1.55, bias -0.05, limits of agreement - 0·20 to +0·11). Excellent scan-rescan reproducibility was also observed for CT-AVC scoring (mean of differences 2% [limits of agreement, 16 to -12%]). AORTIC VALVE CALCIUM SCORE: SINGLE CENTRE STUDY Sex-specific CT-AVC thresholds (2065 in men and 1271 in women) have been proposed as a flow-independent technique for diagnosing severe aortic stenosis. In a prospective cohort study, the impact of CT-AVC scores upon echocardiographic measures of severity, disease progression and aortic valve replacement (AVR)/death were examined. Volunteers (20 controls, 20 with aortic sclerosis, 25 with mild, 33 with moderate and 23 with severe aortic stenosis) underwent CT-AVC and echocardiography at baseline and again at either 1 or 2-year time-points. Women required less calcification than men for the same degree of stenosis (p < 0.001). Baseline CT-AVC measurements appeared to provide the best prediction of subsequent disease progression. After adjustment for age, sex, peak aortic jet velocity (Vmax) ≥ 4m/s and aortic valve area (AVA) < 1 cm2, the published CT-AVC thresholds were the only independent predictor of AVR/death (hazard ratio = 6.39, 95% confidence intervals, 2.90-14.05, p < 0.001). AORTIC VALVE CALCIUM SCORE: MULTICENTRE STUDY CT-AVC thresholds were next examined in an international multicenter registry incorporating a wide range of patient populations, scanner vendors and analysis platforms. Eight centres contributed data from 918 patients (age 77±10, 60% male, Vmax 3.88±0.90 m/s) who had undergone ECG-gated CT within 3 months of echocardiography. Of these 708 (77%) had concordant echocardiographic assessments, in whom our own optimum sex-specific CT-AVC thresholds (women 1377, men 2062 AU) were nearly identical to those previously published. These thresholds provided excellent discrimination for severe stenosis (c-statistic: women 0.92, men 0.88) and independently predicted AVR and death after adjustment for age, sex, Vmax ≥4 m/s and AVA < 1 cm2 (hazards ratio, 3.02 [95% confidence intervals, 1.83-4.99], p < 0.001). In patients with discordant echocardiographic assessments (n=210), CT-AVC thresholds predicted an adverse prognosis. BICUSPID AORTIC VALVES Within the multicentre study, higher continuity-derived estimates of aortic valve area were observed in patients with bicuspid valves (n=68, 1.07±0.35 cm) compared to those with tri-leaflet valves (0.89±0.36 cm p < 0.001,). This was despite no differences in measurements of Vmax (p=0.152), or CT-AVC scores (p=0.313). The accuracy of AVA measurments in bicuspid valves was therefore tested against alternative markers of disease severity. AVA measurements in bicuspid valves demonstrated extremely weak associations with CT-AVC scores (r2=0.08, p=0.02) and failed to correlate with downstream markers of disease severity in the valve and myocardium and against clinical outcomes. AVA measurements in bicuspid patients also failed to independently predict AVR/death after adjustment for Vmax ≥4 m/s, age and gender. In this population CT-AVC thresholds (women 1377, men 2062 AU) again provided excellent discrimination for severe stenosis. CONCLUSIONS Optimised 18F-fluoride PET-CT scans quantify and localise calcification activity, consolidating its potential as a biomarker or end-point in clinical trials of novel therapies. CT calcium scoring of aortic valves is a reproducible technique, which provides diagnostic clarity in addition to powerful prediction of disease progression and adverse clinical events.

Orientador: Maria Rita Pacheco / Banca: Márcia Rita Fernandes Machado / Banca: Lucia Helena Vasques / Resumo: Aterosclerose é um condição inflamatória fibro-proliferativa crônica associada à produção de espécies oxidantes. O composto fenólico resveratrol encontrado principalmente na uva e no vinho tinto, parece ter atividades cardioprotetoras previnindo a oxidação de lipoproteínas de baixa densidade. Neste estudo investigou-se o efeito do resveratrol na prevenção da ateromatose induzida por meio de estudos morfológicos e morfométricos do arco aórtico, bem como observação do perfil bioquímico sérico de HDL, LDL, triglicerídeos e colesterol total. Para tanto, foram utilizados 20 coelhos divididos em quatro grupos os quais receberam as seguintes dietas durante 60 dias: grupo controle (CT) ração normal; grupo resveratrol (R) raçao normal e resveratrol na dose de 3 mg/Kg/dia; grupo colesterol (CL) ração acrescida de 1,5% de colesterol; grupo (CR) tratado com ração acrescida de 1,5% de colesterol e administração simultânea de resveratrol na dose de 3mg/Kg/dia. Na análise morfologica os animais do grupo CT e R não apresentaram alterações nas túnicas íntima, média e adventícia. Os animais do grupo CL apresentaram lesões ateroscleróticas com espessamento da íntima e invasão da média. Os animais do grupo CR também apresentaram lesões invadindo a íntima e média porém estas encontravam-se mais organizadas. O estudo morfométrico revelou maior espessamento da íntima no grupo CL, na camada média não foi observado diferença entre os grupos CL e CR. A avaliação do perfil lipídico dos animais dos grupos CL e CR revelou valores aumentados porém sem diferença entre estes grupos. Houve diferença quando comparados com os grupos que receberam uma dieta normal...(Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Atherosclerosis is a chronic fibro proliferative inflammatory disease associate to the production of reactive oxygen species. Resveratrol, a phenolic compound present in red wine and grape seems to prevent cardiovascular diseases by protecting low density lipoprotein from oxidation. The present study tested wheter resveratrol would provide any benefit in the prevention of induced atheroma lesions through morphologic, morphometric studies in the aortic arch and HDL, LDL, total cholesterol and triglyceride lipid levels. A total of 20 rabbits were divided into 4 groups during 60 days: group CT was given normal diet, group R normal diet with resveratrol at a dose of 3 mg/Kg/day, group CL normal diet supplemented with 1,5% cholesterol, group CR normal diet supplemented with 1,5% cholesterol with resveratrol at a dose of 3 mg/Kg/day. Morphologic analysis of the rabbit group CT and R didn't show lesion in intima, media and adventitia tunicas in the aortic arch. Rabbits fed with a hypercholesterolemic diet show atherosclerotic lesions with thickness of intima and invasion of the media. Severity of atherosclerosis lesions was significantly reduced in group CR and lesions were more organized, and media was also affected. Morphometry study revealed that the intima of aortic arch in CL animals was thickner than CR animals. The media didn't show difference between CL and CR groups. Lipid measurements of hypercholesterolemic rabbits showed a significant increase in serum levels but there weren't differences between CL and CR group, there were differences when compared to those fed a regular diet...(Complete abstract, click electronic access below) / Mestre