La resténose intra-stent (RIS) est une complication importante du traitement endovasculaire des sténoses et occlusions artérielles dont l’incidence est réduite par les stents actifs. Ces derniers entraînent un retard de cicatrisation de la paroi vasculaire et parfois une réaction d’hypersensibilité au polymère, pouvant être responsable d’une thrombose aigue tardive. En raison de l’absence de modèle ex vivo validé, le modèle animal est actuellement obligatoire pour l’étude de la RIS. Ces modèles posent des problèmes éthiques et ne permettent pas une étude satisfaisante des stents actifs en raison de l’impossibilité d’effectuer des prélèvements réguliers. Le but de ce travail est d’une part l’exploration de deux nouvelles cibles thérapeutiques dans la RIS, l’hémine et EP224283, et d’autre part la mise au point d’un bioréacteur pour l’étude ex vivo hémodynamique de la RIS. Analyse in vivo. Les modèles de RIS utilisés étaient le stenting d’aorte de rat et le stenting d’artères iliaques de lapins hypercholestérolémiques. Sept ou 28 jours après l’implantation du stent, les artères stentées étaient prélevées puis soit incluses en résine pour analyse morphologique, soit congelées pour analyse de l’expression protéique. L’hémine était administrée par voie intrapéritonéale et EP224283 par voie sous cutanée toutes les 48 heures. Les témoins recevaient du sérum physiologique. L’analyse histomorphométrique après traitement par hémine montrait une réduction significative de 30% de la formation de néointima chez le rat et de 48% chez le lapin. La ré-endothélialisation des mailles du stent, analysée en microscopie électronique, était comparable à celle des témoins. L’analyse protéique montrait chez les rats traités par hémine : une réduction de l’expression des cytokines inflammatoires et des protéines impliquées dans la prolifération et la migration des CMLV (ERK1/2 et RhoA), associée à une augmentation de l’expression des protéines régulatrices de la prolifération (p21 et p27), et une réduction de l’apoptose. L’analyse histomorphométrique montrait chez les rats traités par EP224283 une réduction significative de formation de néointima de 20%. L’analyse protéique montrait une réduction de l’expression des protéines impliquées dans la prolifération des CMLV (ERK1/2 et Akt) associée à une augmentation de la forme active de p38, régulatrice de la prolifération. L’expression de Ki67 était réduite chez l’ensemble des rats traités témoignant d’une réduction de prolifération cellulaire. Analyse ex vivo : En partenariat avec l’ENSAM (Paris), nous avons confectionné et breveté un bioréacteur pour l’étude ex vivo de la RIS en conditions hémodynamiques et biologiques semblables au vivant. Ce bioréacteur fait circuler un flux pulsé dans 6 artères branchées en dérivation et immergées dans du milieu de culture cellulaire. Ce circuit est logé dans un incubateur afin de maintenir les tissus vivants durant l’expérimentation. Son objectif est d’affiner l’étude des nouveaux stents actifs par la possibilité de prélèvements multiples, d’analyser les écoulements, de travailler avec des artères humaines (prélevées lors de dons d’organes) et de s’affranchir en partie du modèle animal. Ces travaux montrent l’intérêt de deux nouvelles molécules thérapeutiques dans la RIS. Celles-ci limitent la prolifération cellulaire sans empêcher la cicatrisation de la paroi vasculaire. Notre modèle d’étude ex vivo hémodynamique de la RIS n’a jamais été décrit dans la littérature et permettra une analyse précise des nouveaux stents. Ce modèle va réduire le recours à l’expérimentation animale. Nos travaux futurs comprendront la mise au point de nouveaux stents actifs à l’hémine et à EP224283, ainsi que la validation et l’exploitation du modèle de RIS hémodynamique ex vivo. / In stent restenosis (ISR) is a major complication of endovascular treatment due to an excessive healing of the arterial wall. Drug eluting stents (DES) reduce the rate of ISR but expose to late stent thrombosis, related to a delayed or incomplete healing of the arterial wall, and also to hypersensitivity reactions induced by the polymer. Currently animal models are mandatory to investigate ISR as there is no reliable in vitro model. Nevertheless, these models are often far from human ISR, because of the underlying atherosclerosis process. They are also not suitable for testing DES because several experimentations and multiple samples are required. In this work, we assess the effects of two new therapeutic molecules to reduce ISR, hemin and EP224283, and we developed a new in vitro model of ISR, reproducing a hemodynamic and biological physiological environment. In vivo analysis. In stent restenosis models were stent implantation in rat abdominal aorta or in hypercholesterolemic rabbit iliac arteries. Seven or 28 days after stent implantation, the stented arteries were removed and either frozen for protein analysis or placed in fixative for morphological analysis with optical or electronical microscopy. Animals received hemin intraperitoneally or EP224283 subcutaneously every 48 hours. Control animals received saline. Histomorphological analysis at day 28 revealed that in the hemin treated group, the extent of neointima area was significantly reduced compared to the control group. A 30% decrease was observed in rats and 40% in rabbit. Endothelial coverage in electronic microscopy was similar in hemin-treated rats and rabbit when compared to their controls. The protein analysis in rats revealed that hemin limited the early inflammatory response and cellular mechanisms implicated in VSMC proliferation (ERK1/2 and p21 p27), in VSMC migration (RhoA) and reduce apoptosis. At day 28, EP224283 significantly reduced neointima growth around 20% in rats. Protein analysis revealed that EP224283 reduced vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation pathways: both ERK1/2 and Akt activated form were down-regulated in the treated rats, and p38 activated form were up-regulated. Expression of Ki67 was also reduced in both hemin and EP224283 treated group, indicating a reduced proliferation of vascular cells.Ex vivo experiments. In association with ParisTech, we developed a bioreactor for ex vivo study of ISR, providing physiologic pulsatile flow. This bioreactor will be a major tool in the research on future pro-healing DES. The bioreactor will allow: to perform numerous blood samples; study several stents at the same time; analyze flows and their effects on ISR; work directly with human arteries, collected during organ donation; and reduce the need for animal experimentation. This work demonstrated the significance of two new therapeutic molecules to prevent ISR, hemin and EP224283. Both reduced ISR without stopping the physiological healing of the arterial wall. We developed a bioreactor providing physiological and hemodynamical conditions. It will be a useful tool for the development of new DES. Our perspectives are now to create a new drug eluting stent releasing hemin or EP224283, as well as to validate our novel ex vivo hemodynamic model of ISR, in order to test our new DES in both animal models and ex vivo hemodynamic conditions.

Yes / Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing worldwide, and it is associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). For T2DM patients, the main surgical intervention for CAD is autologous saphenous vein grafting. However, T2DM patients have increased risk of saphenous vein graft failure (SVGF). While the mechanisms underlying increased risk of vascular disease in T2DM are not fully understood, hyperglycaemia, insulin resistance, and hyperinsulinaemia have been shown to contribute to microvascular damage, whereas clinical trials have reported limited effects of intensive glycaemic control in the management of macrovascular complications. This suggests that factors other than glucose exposure may be responsible for the macrovascular complications observed in T2DM. SVGF is characterised by neointimal hyperplasia (NIH) arising from endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction and uncontrolled migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). This is driven in part by proinflammatory cytokines released from the activated ECs and SMCs, particularly interleukin 6 (IL-6). IL-6 stimulation of the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT) pathway is a key mechanism through which EC inflammation, SMC migration, and proliferation are controlled and whose activation might therefore be enhanced in patients with T2DM. In this review, we investigate how proinflammatory cytokines, particularly IL-6, contribute to vascular damage resulting in SVGF and how suppression of proinflammatory cytokine responses via targeting the JAK/STAT pathway could be exploited as a potential therapeutic strategy. These include the targeting of suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS3), which appears to play a key role in suppressing unwanted vascular inflammation, SMC migration, and proliferation. / FTM is supported by a University of Botswana PhD scholarship.

No description available.

No description available.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Introdução: Apesar dos avanços significativos no tratamento endovascular das doenças arteriais coronarianas e periféricas, a reestenose intra-stent continua sendo o principal limitante a médio prazo desses procedimentos. O mecanismo da reestenose intra-stent é principalmente a hiperplasia intimal, já que o stent impede a retração elástica aguda e resiste ao remodelamento geométrico negativo tardio. A hiperplasia intimal ocorre basicamente em resposta à formação de trombo local, à inflamação e às dissecções intimais e mediais secundárias à injúria causada pelo stent, sendo o grau de resposta intimal a base dos efeitos a longo prazo. O uso de stents com hastes menores e revestidos com drogas ou polímeros tem sido considerado uma nova alternativa para a prevenção da reestenose intra-stent. Objetivo: Analisar a resposta arterial ao implante de stent de cromo-cobalto sem e com revestimento de polímero Camouflage® em artérias carótidas de suínos, utilizando os seguintes parâmetros histológicos: grau de endotelização, conteúdo de células musculares lisas, grau de angiogênese, conteúdo de fibrina, grau de inflamação e injúria; além da análise histomorfométrica. Método: Stents balões-expansíveis de cromo-cobalto ( 8 stents CC Flex e 5 stents CC Flex Proactive) de 4 x 16 mm foram implantados em artérias carótidas comuns de oito suínos jovens, sendo um stent liberado em cada artéria. Após 30 dias, as artérias contendo os stents foram removidas, fixadas e coradas pelos métodos de hematoxilina/eosina e Verhoeff/Van Giesson. O segmento arterial contendo o stent foi dividido em 3 blocos distintos: proximal, médio e distal. Os cortes histológicos foram obtidos utilizando-se micrótomo de impacto (Polycut S, Leica, Alemanha) equipado com navalha de tungstênio de 16 cm, tipo D (Leica, Alemanha), com 5 ^m de espessura. A navalha de tungstênio mantém as hastes dos stents intactas nas secções transversas, minimizando os artefatos potenciais causados pela retirada dos stents. A avaliação foi realizada através de critérios histológicos e histomorfométricos. Resultados: Todos os stents foram implantados com sucesso e sem dificuldades técnicas. A análise histológica em 30 dias evidenciou alto grau de endotelização em todos os segmentos avaliados e leve à moderada infiltração de células musculares na íntima. Observou-se baixo grau de angiogênese em cerca de 50% dos segmentos avaliados e ausência completa de deposição de fibrina em pelo menos 80%, com distribuição semelhante entre os grupos. A resposta inflamatória e o grau de injúria causadas pelas hastes dos stents também foram discretas e similares entre os grupos e não houve correlação entre resposta inflamatória e injúria e desses parâmetros com a área de neoíntima. O grau de obstrução neo-intimal identificada neste período foi pequeno (15,1% +/- 8,38 CC Flex x 15,5%+/- 5,39 CC Flex ProActive) e estatisticamente não significativo entre os grupos (p=0,785). Conclusão: Os achados deste estudo experimental sugerem que o uso de stents de cromo-cobalto revestidos com polímero Camouflage® em artérias carótidas de suínos parece estar associado, pelo menos no curto prazo, a uma resposta histológica semelhante àquela encontrada após o implante de stents de cromo-cobalto não revestidos. Neste período não se observou uma menor hiperplasia intimal em virtude do revestimento de polímero. / Introduction: Despite all the advances in the endovascular treatment of coronary and peripheral artery diseases, in-stent restenosis is still the main limiting factor of these procedures in the medium and long-term. The mechanism of in-stent restenosis is mainly the intimal hyperplasia, as the stent prevents acute elastic recoil and later negative geometric arterial remodeling. Intimal hyperplasia occurs basically in response to the formation of local thrombus, inflammation and intimal and medial dissections secondary to the injury caused by the stent, with the degree of intimal response being the cause of long-term effects. Coating drug-eluting stents with polymers and drugs with thinner struts have been considered a new alternative for in-stent restenosis prevention. Objective: Analyse the arterial response to the cobalt-chromium stent implant with and without polymer coating Camouflage® in carotid arteries of pigs, using the following histological parameters: degree of endothelialization, smooth muscle cells (SMC) content, degree of angiogenesis, intimal fibrin content, degree of inflammation and injury; plus histomorphometric analysis. Method: Cobaltchromium balloon-expandable stents (8 CC Flex stents and 5 CC Flex Proactive), 4 x 16 mm, were deployed in common carotid arteries of 8 young pigs, with one stent being deployed in each artery. After 30 days, the arteries containing the stents were removed and underwent fixation and staining using the hematoxilin/eosin and Verhoeff /Van Giesson methods. The arterial segment containing the stent was divided into 3 distinct portions: proximal, middle and distal. The histological sections were obtained using impact microtome (Polycut S, Leica, Germany), equipped with a 16 cm, type D, 5 ^m thick tungsten knife (Leica, Germany). The tungsten knife maintains the stent shaft intact in cross sections, minimizing the potential artifacts caused by stent removal. The evaluation was carried out using histological and histomorfometric criteria. Results: All the stents were deployed with success and with no technical difficulties. The histological analysis performed after 30 days showed a high level of endothelialization in all the evaluated portions and mild to moderate infiltration of the SMC in the intima layer. A low level of angiogenesis of about 50% of the evaluated portions was observed and a complete absence of fibrin deposition in at least 80% of the portions, with similar distribution among the groups. The inflammatory response and the level of injury caused by the struts of the stents were also minimum and this was similar among the groups. There was no correlation between inflammatory response and injury and between the two latter parameters and the neo-intima area. The level of neo-intimal obstruction identified in this period was small (15,1% +/- 8,38 CC Flex x 15,5%+/- 5,39 CC Flex ProActive ) and no statistical significance between the groups (p=0,785). Conclusion: The findings of this experimental study suggest the use of balloonexpandable cobalt-chromium stents coated with polymer Camouflage® in carotid arteries of pigs seems to be associated, at least in the short-term, with a similar histological response to that found in the implantation of non-coated cobalt-chromium stents. In this period, a lower intimal hyperplasia was not observed with polymer coating stents.

Introdução: Apesar dos avanços significativos no tratamento endovascular das doenças arteriais coronarianas e periféricas, a reestenose intra-stent continua sendo o principal limitante a médio prazo desses procedimentos. O mecanismo da reestenose intra-stent é principalmente a hiperplasia intimal, já que o stent impede a retração elástica aguda e resiste ao remodelamento geométrico negativo tardio. A hiperplasia intimal ocorre basicamente em resposta à formação de trombo local, à inflamação e às dissecções intimais e mediais secundárias à injúria causada pelo stent, sendo o grau de resposta intimal a base dos efeitos a longo prazo. O uso de stents com hastes menores e revestidos com drogas ou polímeros tem sido considerado uma nova alternativa para a prevenção da reestenose intra-stent. Objetivo: Analisar a resposta arterial ao implante de stent de cromo-cobalto sem e com revestimento de polímero Camouflage® em artérias carótidas de suínos, utilizando os seguintes parâmetros histológicos: grau de endotelização, conteúdo de células musculares lisas, grau de angiogênese, conteúdo de fibrina, grau de inflamação e injúria; além da análise histomorfométrica. Método: Stents balões-expansíveis de cromo-cobalto ( 8 stents CC Flex e 5 stents CC Flex Proactive) de 4 x 16 mm foram implantados em artérias carótidas comuns de oito suínos jovens, sendo um stent liberado em cada artéria. Após 30 dias, as artérias contendo os stents foram removidas, fixadas e coradas pelos métodos de hematoxilina/eosina e Verhoeff/Van Giesson. O segmento arterial contendo o stent foi dividido em 3 blocos distintos: proximal, médio e distal. Os cortes histológicos foram obtidos utilizando-se micrótomo de impacto (Polycut S, Leica, Alemanha) equipado com navalha de tungstênio de 16 cm, tipo D (Leica, Alemanha), com 5 ^m de espessura. A navalha de tungstênio mantém as hastes dos stents intactas nas secções transversas, minimizando os artefatos potenciais causados pela retirada dos stents. A avaliação foi realizada através de critérios histológicos e histomorfométricos. Resultados: Todos os stents foram implantados com sucesso e sem dificuldades técnicas. A análise histológica em 30 dias evidenciou alto grau de endotelização em todos os segmentos avaliados e leve à moderada infiltração de células musculares na íntima. Observou-se baixo grau de angiogênese em cerca de 50% dos segmentos avaliados e ausência completa de deposição de fibrina em pelo menos 80%, com distribuição semelhante entre os grupos. A resposta inflamatória e o grau de injúria causadas pelas hastes dos stents também foram discretas e similares entre os grupos e não houve correlação entre resposta inflamatória e injúria e desses parâmetros com a área de neoíntima. O grau de obstrução neo-intimal identificada neste período foi pequeno (15,1% +/- 8,38 CC Flex x 15,5%+/- 5,39 CC Flex ProActive) e estatisticamente não significativo entre os grupos (p=0,785). Conclusão: Os achados deste estudo experimental sugerem que o uso de stents de cromo-cobalto revestidos com polímero Camouflage® em artérias carótidas de suínos parece estar associado, pelo menos no curto prazo, a uma resposta histológica semelhante àquela encontrada após o implante de stents de cromo-cobalto não revestidos. Neste período não se observou uma menor hiperplasia intimal em virtude do revestimento de polímero. / Introduction: Despite all the advances in the endovascular treatment of coronary and peripheral artery diseases, in-stent restenosis is still the main limiting factor of these procedures in the medium and long-term. The mechanism of in-stent restenosis is mainly the intimal hyperplasia, as the stent prevents acute elastic recoil and later negative geometric arterial remodeling. Intimal hyperplasia occurs basically in response to the formation of local thrombus, inflammation and intimal and medial dissections secondary to the injury caused by the stent, with the degree of intimal response being the cause of long-term effects. Coating drug-eluting stents with polymers and drugs with thinner struts have been considered a new alternative for in-stent restenosis prevention. Objective: Analyse the arterial response to the cobalt-chromium stent implant with and without polymer coating Camouflage® in carotid arteries of pigs, using the following histological parameters: degree of endothelialization, smooth muscle cells (SMC) content, degree of angiogenesis, intimal fibrin content, degree of inflammation and injury; plus histomorphometric analysis. Method: Cobaltchromium balloon-expandable stents (8 CC Flex stents and 5 CC Flex Proactive), 4 x 16 mm, were deployed in common carotid arteries of 8 young pigs, with one stent being deployed in each artery. After 30 days, the arteries containing the stents were removed and underwent fixation and staining using the hematoxilin/eosin and Verhoeff /Van Giesson methods. The arterial segment containing the stent was divided into 3 distinct portions: proximal, middle and distal. The histological sections were obtained using impact microtome (Polycut S, Leica, Germany), equipped with a 16 cm, type D, 5 ^m thick tungsten knife (Leica, Germany). The tungsten knife maintains the stent shaft intact in cross sections, minimizing the potential artifacts caused by stent removal. The evaluation was carried out using histological and histomorfometric criteria. Results: All the stents were deployed with success and with no technical difficulties. The histological analysis performed after 30 days showed a high level of endothelialization in all the evaluated portions and mild to moderate infiltration of the SMC in the intima layer. A low level of angiogenesis of about 50% of the evaluated portions was observed and a complete absence of fibrin deposition in at least 80% of the portions, with similar distribution among the groups. The inflammatory response and the level of injury caused by the struts of the stents were also minimum and this was similar among the groups. There was no correlation between inflammatory response and injury and between the two latter parameters and the neo-intima area. The level of neo-intimal obstruction identified in this period was small (15,1% +/- 8,38 CC Flex x 15,5%+/- 5,39 CC Flex ProActive ) and no statistical significance between the groups (p=0,785). Conclusion: The findings of this experimental study suggest the use of balloonexpandable cobalt-chromium stents coated with polymer Camouflage® in carotid arteries of pigs seems to be associated, at least in the short-term, with a similar histological response to that found in the implantation of non-coated cobalt-chromium stents. In this period, a lower intimal hyperplasia was not observed with polymer coating stents.

Introdução: Apesar dos avanços significativos no tratamento endovascular das doenças arteriais coronarianas e periféricas, a reestenose intra-stent continua sendo o principal limitante a médio prazo desses procedimentos. O mecanismo da reestenose intra-stent é principalmente a hiperplasia intimal, já que o stent impede a retração elástica aguda e resiste ao remodelamento geométrico negativo tardio. A hiperplasia intimal ocorre basicamente em resposta à formação de trombo local, à inflamação e às dissecções intimais e mediais secundárias à injúria causada pelo stent, sendo o grau de resposta intimal a base dos efeitos a longo prazo. O uso de stents com hastes menores e revestidos com drogas ou polímeros tem sido considerado uma nova alternativa para a prevenção da reestenose intra-stent. Objetivo: Analisar a resposta arterial ao implante de stent de cromo-cobalto sem e com revestimento de polímero Camouflage® em artérias carótidas de suínos, utilizando os seguintes parâmetros histológicos: grau de endotelização, conteúdo de células musculares lisas, grau de angiogênese, conteúdo de fibrina, grau de inflamação e injúria; além da análise histomorfométrica. Método: Stents balões-expansíveis de cromo-cobalto ( 8 stents CC Flex e 5 stents CC Flex Proactive) de 4 x 16 mm foram implantados em artérias carótidas comuns de oito suínos jovens, sendo um stent liberado em cada artéria. Após 30 dias, as artérias contendo os stents foram removidas, fixadas e coradas pelos métodos de hematoxilina/eosina e Verhoeff/Van Giesson. O segmento arterial contendo o stent foi dividido em 3 blocos distintos: proximal, médio e distal. Os cortes histológicos foram obtidos utilizando-se micrótomo de impacto (Polycut S, Leica, Alemanha) equipado com navalha de tungstênio de 16 cm, tipo D (Leica, Alemanha), com 5 ^m de espessura. A navalha de tungstênio mantém as hastes dos stents intactas nas secções transversas, minimizando os artefatos potenciais causados pela retirada dos stents. A avaliação foi realizada através de critérios histológicos e histomorfométricos. Resultados: Todos os stents foram implantados com sucesso e sem dificuldades técnicas. A análise histológica em 30 dias evidenciou alto grau de endotelização em todos os segmentos avaliados e leve à moderada infiltração de células musculares na íntima. Observou-se baixo grau de angiogênese em cerca de 50% dos segmentos avaliados e ausência completa de deposição de fibrina em pelo menos 80%, com distribuição semelhante entre os grupos. A resposta inflamatória e o grau de injúria causadas pelas hastes dos stents também foram discretas e similares entre os grupos e não houve correlação entre resposta inflamatória e injúria e desses parâmetros com a área de neoíntima. O grau de obstrução neo-intimal identificada neste período foi pequeno (15,1% +/- 8,38 CC Flex x 15,5%+/- 5,39 CC Flex ProActive) e estatisticamente não significativo entre os grupos (p=0,785). Conclusão: Os achados deste estudo experimental sugerem que o uso de stents de cromo-cobalto revestidos com polímero Camouflage® em artérias carótidas de suínos parece estar associado, pelo menos no curto prazo, a uma resposta histológica semelhante àquela encontrada após o implante de stents de cromo-cobalto não revestidos. Neste período não se observou uma menor hiperplasia intimal em virtude do revestimento de polímero. / Introduction: Despite all the advances in the endovascular treatment of coronary and peripheral artery diseases, in-stent restenosis is still the main limiting factor of these procedures in the medium and long-term. The mechanism of in-stent restenosis is mainly the intimal hyperplasia, as the stent prevents acute elastic recoil and later negative geometric arterial remodeling. Intimal hyperplasia occurs basically in response to the formation of local thrombus, inflammation and intimal and medial dissections secondary to the injury caused by the stent, with the degree of intimal response being the cause of long-term effects. Coating drug-eluting stents with polymers and drugs with thinner struts have been considered a new alternative for in-stent restenosis prevention. Objective: Analyse the arterial response to the cobalt-chromium stent implant with and without polymer coating Camouflage® in carotid arteries of pigs, using the following histological parameters: degree of endothelialization, smooth muscle cells (SMC) content, degree of angiogenesis, intimal fibrin content, degree of inflammation and injury; plus histomorphometric analysis. Method: Cobaltchromium balloon-expandable stents (8 CC Flex stents and 5 CC Flex Proactive), 4 x 16 mm, were deployed in common carotid arteries of 8 young pigs, with one stent being deployed in each artery. After 30 days, the arteries containing the stents were removed and underwent fixation and staining using the hematoxilin/eosin and Verhoeff /Van Giesson methods. The arterial segment containing the stent was divided into 3 distinct portions: proximal, middle and distal. The histological sections were obtained using impact microtome (Polycut S, Leica, Germany), equipped with a 16 cm, type D, 5 ^m thick tungsten knife (Leica, Germany). The tungsten knife maintains the stent shaft intact in cross sections, minimizing the potential artifacts caused by stent removal. The evaluation was carried out using histological and histomorfometric criteria. Results: All the stents were deployed with success and with no technical difficulties. The histological analysis performed after 30 days showed a high level of endothelialization in all the evaluated portions and mild to moderate infiltration of the SMC in the intima layer. A low level of angiogenesis of about 50% of the evaluated portions was observed and a complete absence of fibrin deposition in at least 80% of the portions, with similar distribution among the groups. The inflammatory response and the level of injury caused by the struts of the stents were also minimum and this was similar among the groups. There was no correlation between inflammatory response and injury and between the two latter parameters and the neo-intima area. The level of neo-intimal obstruction identified in this period was small (15,1% +/- 8,38 CC Flex x 15,5%+/- 5,39 CC Flex ProActive ) and no statistical significance between the groups (p=0,785). Conclusion: The findings of this experimental study suggest the use of balloonexpandable cobalt-chromium stents coated with polymer Camouflage® in carotid arteries of pigs seems to be associated, at least in the short-term, with a similar histological response to that found in the implantation of non-coated cobalt-chromium stents. In this period, a lower intimal hyperplasia was not observed with polymer coating stents.

O crescimento de uma camada neoíntima é o marcador central do processo aterosclerótico, bem como do remodelamento vascular associado à reestenose após intervenções vasculares terapêuticas, tais como angioplastia ou colocação de stents. A célula neointimal é essencialmente uma célula com fenótipo muscular liso indiferenciado, cuja origem pode ser múltipla e com característica ação secretora de matriz extracelular. Dentre os fatores que coordenam a (des)diferenciação, proliferação e migração destas células, há evidências de que processos redox tenham papel preponderante, porém os mecanismos de tais processos não estão claros. A compreensão mais profunda de tais mecanismos redox tem sido dificultada pela falta de modelos de células neointimais cultivadas. Os objetivos específicos deste trabalho são: 1) Desenvolver um modelo de cultura de células neointimais de artéria ilíaca de coelho obtidas após lesão por catéter-balão. 2) Avaliar em tais células índices do estado redox e potenciais fontes enzimáticas de ERO, com ênfase no complexo NAD(P)H oxidase. 3)Avaliar marcadores de estresse do retículo endoplasmático e sua correlação com os índices do estado redox. 4) Estudar o efeito de estímulos proapoptóticos como deprivação de soro, estressores do RE e particularmente administração exógena de NO na viabilidade e estado redox de células neointimais. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que: é possível obter células neointimais em cultura de modo reproduzível e estável. Células provenientes da artéria lesada mantém um estado persistente de aumento do estresse oxidativo. O estresse oxidativo nessas células decorre de produção aumentada de radical superóxido e ativação do complexo da NADPH oxidase vascular. Diferentemente do observado em vasos lesados, os marcadores do estresse do reticulo endoplasmático não se apresentam alterados se comparados a células musculares lisas normais. Células neointimais têm resposta aumentada a agonistas da NADPH oxidase e estressores celulares. A exposição a óxido nitrico promove aumento da produção de superóxido, particularmente acentuado em células neointimais. As curvas de viabilidade celular indicam uma sensibilidade aumentada a estressores do RE, doadores de NO e particularmente a oxidantes exógenos. Em conjunto, estes resultados permitem concluir que o fenótipo neointimal é um fenótipo de estresse oxidativo acentuado e persistente, mesmo em condições de cultura celular, e que este estresse oxidativo decorre pelo menos em parte da ativação do complexo NADPH oxidase no contexto de uma adaptação à resposta celular integrada ao estresse. Estes dados indicam novas perspectivas no entendimento dos mecanismos envolvidos na fisiopatologia redox da neoíntima, podendo suscitar o desenho de intervenções terapêuticas racionais. / Formation of a neointimal layer is the hallmark of most vascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis and restenosis after angioplasty. Neointimal cells display an undifferentiated noncontractile smooth muscle phenotype with marked extracellular matrix secretion. Their origin can be multiple. Among factors that govern the (de)differentiation, proliferation and migration of neointimal cells, there is evidence for a key role of redox processes, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Advancing the knowledge about such redox mechanisms has been difficulted by the absence of a reproducible method of neointimal cell culture. The objectives of this work are: 1) To develop a model of neointimal cell culture, in which cells are harvested from rabbit iliac arteries 14 days after overdistention balloon injury. 2) To assess the redox status in such neointimal cells and the possible enzymatic source of reactive oxygen, with emphasis in the NAD(P)H oxidase complex. 3) To investigate the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress markers and their corralation with redox status. 4) To investigate the effects of proapoptotic stimuli such as serum deprivation, endoplasmic reticulum stressors and particularly the exogenous administration of nitric oxide in viability and redox status of neointimal cells. Our results show that it is possible to harvest and cultivate neointimal cells after balloon injury. The neointimal cells in culture, even after several passages, exhibit increased indexes of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress in such cells is associated with increased activation of the vascular NAD(P)H oxidase complex. Contrarily to what was observed in healing arteries harvested from in vivo rabbits, markers of ER stress did not show any change when compared with primary smooth muscle cells kept in similar conditions. Oxidative stress response was increased after NADPH oxidase agonists; in particular, exposure to exogenous nitric oxide markedly increased superoxide radical production in neointimal cells. Cell viability curves showed increased sensitivity to ER stressors, NO donors and, particularly, exogenous oxidants. Therefore, the neointimal phenotype is a phenotype of intrinsic sustained oxidative stress even after several passages in culture. Such oxidative stress is due at least in part to activation of the NAD(P)H oxidase complex in the context of adaptation to an integrated stress response. This data provide new perspectives to understand redox mechanisms associated with neointimal pathophysiology and can lead to development of rational therapeutic interventions.

Introdução: A angioplastia transluminal periférica com o uso de stents revestidos tem se tornado uma opção viável para o tratamento da doença arterial obstrutiva em casos específicos, principalmente na região fêmuro-poplítea, apesar da incidência significativa de reestenose com papel importante do processo inflamatório. As citocinas são proteínas secretadas pelas células da imunidade natural e adquirida e participam de forma fundamental no processo inflamatório local e sistêmico. Objetivo: Avaliar as concentrações séricas de IL-1?, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-?, TGF-?1e PCR, além do colesterol total e leucometria antes e após o implante de stents revestidos e a possível associação com a reestenose precoce em pacientes com doença arterial periférica fêmoropoplítea. População e método: Foram recrutados 38 pacientes consecutivos do ambulatório de Cirurgia Vascular e Endovascular do HCFMRP-USP com indicação de angioplastia transluminal periférica nos quais foram utilizados stents revestidos no segmento fêmoro- poplíteo para tratamento de doença arterial obstrutiva periférica aterosclerótica. Todos os pacientes foram acompanhados com exames clínicos e de ultrassom Doppler durante até seis meses após o procedimento com dosagens séricas de citocinas, além da proteína C reativa, colesterol total e hemograma. Foi considerado reestenose estreitamentos maiores que 50% do lúmen do vaso, mensurados, inicialmente, pelo ultrassom e confirmado através da arteriografia. Resultados: Dentre os 27 pacientes que foram incluídos no estudo, 23 não apresentaram reestenose (85,2%) e quatro casos evoluíram com reestenose precoce (14,8%). Nenhuma das citocinas estudadas - IL-1?, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-? e TGF-? - mostrou correlação com a reestenose (p>0.05). Também não houve correlação do processo de reestenose com a proteína C reativa, colesterol total ou a leucometria (p>0.05). O índice tornozelo-braquial mostrou boa correlação com a evolução clínica dos pacientes. Conclusão: O perfil inflamatório de pacientes submetidos à angioplastia transluminal percutânea periférica com stents de nitinol revestidos de politetrafluoretileno avaliado através das citocinas séricas IL-1?, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-? e TGF-? mostrou significativo aumento das citocinas pró-inflamatórias logo após o procedimento. Não houve correlação de nenhuma das interleucinas estudadas ou ainda da proteína C reativa com o processo de reestenose. / Introduction: The peripheral transluminal angioplasty with the use of coated stents has become a viable option for the treatment of obstructive arterial disease in specific cases, mainly in the femoral-popliteal region, despite the significant incidence of restenosis with important role of the inflammatory process. Cytokines are proteins secreted by cells of natural and acquired immunity and participate in a fundamental way in the local and systemic inflammatory process. Objective: To evaluate the serum concentrations of IL-1?, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-?, TGF-?1 and PCR, as well as total cholesterol and leucometry before and after the implantation of coated stents and the possible association with early restenosis in patients with peripheral femoralpopliteal arterial disease. Population and method: 38 consecutive patients from the outpatient clinic of vascular and endovascular surgery of the HCFMRP-USP were recruited with indication of peripheral transluminal angioplasty in which the stent was coated in the femoropopliteal segment for the treatment of atherosclerotic peripheral obstructive arterial disease. All patients were followed up with clinical examinations and Doppler ultrasound for up to six months after the procedure with serum levels of cytokines, as well as C-reactive protein, total cholesterol and hemogram. It was considered restenosis narrowings greater than 50% of vessel lumen, measured, initially, by the ultrasound and confirmed by arteriography. Results: Of the 27 patients included in the study, 23 did not present restenosis (85.2%) and four cases evolved with early restenosis (14.8%). None of the cytokines studied - IL-1?, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-? and TGF-? - showed a correlation with restenosis (p> 0.05). There was also no correlation of the restenosis process with the C-reactive protein, total cholesterol or leucometry (p> 0.05). The ankle-brachial index showed a good correlation with the clinical evolution of the patients. Conclusions: The inflammatory profile of patients undergoing peripheral percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with polytetrafluoroethylene-coated nitinol stents evaluated through the serum cytokines IL-1?, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-? and TGF-? showed a significant increase in proinflammatory cytokines soon after the procedure. There was no correlation of any of the interleukins studied or the C-reactive protein with the restenosis process.