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.

OBJETIVO: analisar, por meio da morfometria digital, o espessamento intimal presente na artéria ilíaca de suínos, submetidos à angioplastia isoladamente e à angioplastia seguida do implante de stent. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: em dez suínos sadios, foi realizada a angioplastia de ambas as artérias ilíacas comuns (AIC) seguida do implante de um “Z” stent autoexpansível na AIC esquerda. Após quatro semanas, os animais foram sacrificados para a retirada de amostras de tecido arterial e preparo das lâminas histológicas de três grupos de peças de cada suíno divididas do seguinte modo: grupo 1, envolvendo o segmento arterial proximal do stent; grupo 2, envolvendo o segmento distal do stent; grupo 3, área da angioplastia da AIC direita. As imagens das lâminas foram digitalizadas e analisadas por programa de morfometria com cálculo da área luminal, área da camada íntima e área da camada média dos cortes histológicos. A análise estatística foi realizada através de média e desvio padrão das áreas em cada grupo, utilizando ANOVA, com teste Post-Hoc de Tukey e LSD. O valor de p≤0,05 foi considerado significativo. RESULTADOS: na análise das médias das áreas obtidas, foi encontrada uma diferença estatisticamente significativa quanto à camada íntima dos grupos 1 (5,41 mm²) e 2 (5,25 mm²), quando comparados ao grupo 3 (0,65 mm²), em relação à camada média dos grupos 1 (3,51 mm²) e 2 (3,70 mm²), quando comparados ao grupo 3 (5,59 mm²) e não se observou diferença significativa nas médias das áreas luminais dos três grupos (grupo 1: 6,63 mm²; grupo 2: 5,25 mm²; grupo 3: 5,78 mm²). CONCLUSÃO: a angioplastia da AIC do suíno, seguida do implante do stent, gerou um espessamento intimal maior do que aquele produzido apenas pela angioplastia; porém, a área da camada média apresentou-se diminuída nos grupos “angioplastia + stent”; a luz arterial não apresentou diferença entre estes grupos. / PURPOSE: to compare through digital morphometry, the intimal thickening of the ilíac arteries in pigs, submitted to isolated angioplasty and angioplasty followed by stent implantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: the angioplasty was performed in 10 healthy pigs in both common ilac arteries (CIA), followed by a self-expanding stainless steel “Z” stent implantation in the left CIA. After four weeks, the animals where sacrificed and the aorto-iliac segment was dissected free of surrounding structures. Histologic slices where divided in three groups: left CIA in the area of the proximal implantation site of the stent (group 1), left CIA including the distal implantation site of the stent (group 2) and the region of angioplasty in the right CIA (group 3). The histological slices were digitalized to be analysed by morphometry with calculation of the luminal, intimal and media layers areas. Descriptive statistics analysis was performed through average and standard deviation of areas on each group, using ANOVA, with Tukey and LSD Post-Hoc tests. The value of p≤0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: a significant statistic difference was observed when the median area of intimal layer of the groups 1 (5.41 mm²) and 2 (5.25 mm²) were compared with group 3 (0.65 mm²) and in the media layer area of the groups 1 (3.51 mm²) and 2 (3.70 mm²) when compared with group 3 (5.59 mm²). No difference was observed in luminal areas among the three groups (group 1: 6.63 mm²; group 2: 5.25 mm²; group 3: 5.78 mm²). CONCLUSION: angioplasty followed by stent insertion produces an intimal thickening bigger than that observed after simple angioplasty; however, the area of the media layer is smaller in the “angioplasty plus stent” groups; there is no significant change in the luminal area among the three groups.

Orientador: Marcelo Ganzarolli de Oliveira / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-08T04:10:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Simoes_MairaMartinsdeSouzaGodoy_M.pdf: 3432819 bytes, checksum: d31e48f8632d109b7dba6dbd370c37f6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: Stents são malhas metálicas expansíveis usadas em procedimentos de angioplastia, para a desobstrução das artérias coronárias. Atualmente há um grande interesse na obtenção de stents revestidos com matrizes poliméricas eluidoras de drogas que impeçam a reoclusão da artéria (reestenose). S-nitrosotióis doadores de óxido nítrico (NO) como a S-nitrosoglutationa (GSNO) possuem potencial para a inibição da reestenose. Neste trabalho, placas metálicas e stents foram revestidos com filmes de PVA contendo GSNO (107 µmol/g) através da imersão em soluções de PVA/GSNO com concentrações de PVA de 0,5 a 10,0% m/v. Filmes de PVA/GSNO foram submetidos a ciclos de congelamento/descongelamento (C/D), e analisados em relação ao seu grau de cristalinidade, dissolução, intumescimento, morfologia e propriedades de difusão e eluição da GSNO. Análises por DSC e difração de raios X, mostraram que o grau de cristalinidade do PVA aumenta com o número de ciclos de C/D, e com a secagem por sublimação do filme congelado. O aumento da cristalinidade se reflete em uma diminuição da velocidade de eluição da GSNO para a fase aquosa e da velocidade de dissolução e grau de intumecimento da matriz. Os coeficientes de difusão (D) da GSNO através de filmes de PVA foram medidos utilizando-se uma cela tipo Franz com monitoramento espectrofotométrico. Verificou-se que os valores de D são menores nos filmes secos por sublimação e submetidos a um ciclo de C/D. Este resultado foi atribuído ao aumento da densificação da fase amorfa, obtido na secagem por sublimação. Os filmes secos por esta técnica, apresentaram uma estrutura tridimensional esponjosa constituída por filamentos interligados, revelada por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). Estimou-se que stents revestidos com PVA/GSNO, a partir de soluções de PVA 0,5 % (m/v) esterilizados com óxido de etileno a 45-55°C podem liberar cerca de 30 µmoles/g de PVA para a parede arterial e levaram à obtenção de revestimentos sem filmes entre as hastes metálicas / Abstract: Stents are expansible wire mesh tubes used in angioplasty procedures in order to widening the luminal diameter of the coronary arteries. There is currently a great interest in the development of stents coated with drug-eluting polymeric matrices, which are able to prevent future closure of artery (restenosis). S-nitrosothiols which are nitric oxide (NO) donors, like S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) have potential to inhibit restenosis. In the present work, metallic plates and stents were coated with GSNO (107 µmol/g)- containing PVA films through their immersion in PVA/GSNO solutions with PVA concentration ranging from 0.5 to 10.0% wt/v. PVA/GSNO films were submitted to freezing/thawing cycles (F/T) and analyzed concerning their crystallinity dissolution, swelling, morphology and GSNO diffusion and elution properties. DSC and X Ray diffraction analysis have shown that the PVA crystallinity degree increases with the increase in the number of F/T cycles, and with the drying of the frozen film by sublimation. The increase in cristallinity was reflected in a decrease of the rate of GSNO elution to the aqueous phase, dissolution rate and swelling degree of the matrix. The diffusion coefficients of GSNO through PVA films were measured using a Franz-like cell with spectrophotometric monitoring. It was verified that D values are lower in the films dried by sublimation and submitted to one FT cycle. This result was attributed to the increase in the densification of the amorphous phase obtained in the drying by sublimation. The films dried by this technique, displayed a spongelike three-dimensional structure made by interconnecting filaments, revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Stents coated with PVA/GSNO, from solution of PVA 0.5 % (wt/v) have avoided the formation of films between the wires of the stent mesh. It was estimated that these stents are able to release ca. 30 µmols/g of PVA to the arterial wall after sterilization with ethylene oxide at 45-55 °C / Mestrado / Físico-Química / Mestre em Química

La perturbation des écoulements au voisinage de la paroi artérielle équipée d'un stent joue un rôle prépondérant dans l'apparition et le développement des complications liées aux maladies cardiovasculaires (sténose, resténose, thrombose...). La topologie de l'écoulement dans ces régions est très complexe. En effet, au voisinage du stent, des zones de recirculation se forment en amont et aval de chaque branche et les contraintes pariétales y sont très faibles. Des études in vivo et in vitro ont mis en évidence le rôle de ces caractéristiques de l'écoulement intra-stent sur les maladies cardiovasculaires. Pour cela, la bonne estimation des contraintes pariétales et la compréhension du comportement de l'écoulement intra-stent et son rôle dans le transfert du principe actif devraient permettre d'optimiser les traitements (design de la prothèse, principe actif...). L'approche numérique est une voie très utile pour étudier ces phénomènes. Cependant, la bonne précision du calcul dépend du choix du modèle d'écoulement, des conditions aux limites, de la géométrie du stent et de l'artère pour réaliser une simulation pertinente.Nous étudions ici dans un premier temps l'effet du choix du modèle hémodynamique sur les caractéristiques de l'écoulement intra-stent. Trois modèles numériques décrivant l'écoulement coronaire ont été utilisés. Ces modèles sont : un modèle stationnaire "MP", le modèle pulsé simplifié "MPS" et le modèle pulsé complet "MPC" basé sur l'analyse de Womersley. Nous avons ainsi montré l'importance de la prise en compte de l'instationnarité de l'écoulement mais au dépens d'un temps de calcul très accru. Dans un second temps, nous étudions expérimentalement l'écoulement intra-stent en utilisant la technique de mesure "PIV". Cette étude expérimentale a permis de confirmer les résultats numériques précédents. Au final, nous examinons numériquement l'effet de la pulsatilitié de l'écoulement sur les flux massiques libérés par les faces d'une branche de stent actif. Cette étude numérique a mis en exergue l'importance du couplage entre les recirculations et le transfert de masse vers la paroi artérielle. / The disturbance of the flow in the vicinity of the arterial wall equipped with a stent plays a key role in the onset and development of complications related to cardiovascular diseases (stenosis, restenosis, thrombosis...). The topology of the flow field in the intra-stent zone is very complex. Indeed, in the vicinity of the stent, recirculation zones form upstream and downstream of the stent strut where wall shear stress is very low. In vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated the role of the in-stent flow features on cardiovascular diseases.The correct estimation of the wall shear stress, the understanding of the behavior of the in-stent flow and its role in the transfer of the drug are expected to help optimize treatments (stent geometry, drug composition...). The numerical approach (CFD) is a useful and versatile way to study these phenomena. However, the accuracy and the relevance of the results depend on the choice of the flow model, the boundary conditions and the stent and artery geometry.Firstly we study in this work the impact of the hemodynamic model on the in-stent flow characteristics. Three numerical models describing the coronary flow are used. These models are: the steady model "MP", the simplified pulsatile model "MPS" and the complete pulsatile model "MPC" based on Womersley's analysis. We show the importance of the pulsatility of the flow but at the expense of a high increase in the computing time. Secondly we study experimentally the in-stent flow using measurement technique "PIV". This experimental study confirms the previous numerical results. Finally we examine numerically the effects of the flow pulsatility on the mass fluxes released by the faces of a drug eluting stent. This numerical study highlights the importance of the coupling between the recirculation zones and the mass transfer into the arterial wall.

Ce projet de thèse concerne les 2 principales complications rencontrées en pratique clinique dans les suites de l’angioplastie-stenting artériel : la resténose et la thrombose aigüe. Pour remédier à ce problème, des stents enrobés d’agents antiprolifératifs sont déjà sur le marché, mais leurs résultats restent décevants en raison de l’augmentation du taux de thrombose tardive intrastent (RR 1,2 vs stent nu) à l’origine d’une surmortalité (RR 1,32 vs stent nu) [Lagerqvist Bo et al., N Eng J Med 2007]. Dans ce travail, nous proposons d’immobiliser sur le stent une ancre spécifique au substrat métallique soit pour immobiliser i) la molécule thérapeutique, soit pour immobiliser ii) une matrice polymère sur laquelle sera adsorbée une molécule thérapeutique dans le cas d’un système à libération prolongée; cette dernière ciblant la resténose et la thrombose. Cette ancre, issue des protéines permettant l’accroche des moules marinières à tout type de substrat [Waite JH et al., Science 1981], est la base commune pour une immobilisation par liaisons covalentes de la molécule thérapeutique ou du système polymère. La première partie du projet concernait la mise au point de l’ancre chimique spécifique dans le cadre d’une immobilisation de surface. Avec cette technique d’immobilisation, l’ancre dopamine inclue un ester activé, permettant de générer un polymère de longueur de chaine contrôlé et capable d’adsorber une quantité contrôlée et définie de molécule thérapeutique [C Zobrist et al., Macromolecules 2011]. Ce polymère de N-(Acryloyloxy)succinimide a pu être caractérisé et couplé à une molécule de glucosamine, protéoglycane aux caractéristiques pertinentes dans la problématique développée. Ce modèle a été validé sur le plan chimique et biologique. Les résultats restaient décevants concernant la prolifération des cellules musculaires lisses qui sont les cellules cibles dans la resténose.L’ancre dopamine a par la suite était modifiée dans le but de permettre le greffage d’autres fonctions chimiques, notamment amines et acides. Elle a finalement été utilisée en conditions basiques (pH 8,5) permettant d’obtenir une polydopamine [Lee et al., Science 2007].Cette polydopamine a permis l’interaction sur notre surface d’un polymère bien connu au sein de notre unité et déjà employé pour la fonctionnalisation des tissus dans le domaine biomédical, le polymère de cyclodextrine (CD) [Martel B et al., European Polymer Journal 1995]. Les CD sont des oligosaccharides cycliques sous forme de cône tronqué possédant une cavité hydrophobe interne et des groupements hydroxyles à l’extérieur engendrant un caractère hydrophile. Cette structure cyclique leur confère la capacité de former des complexes d’inclusion réversibles avec un grand nombre de molécules hydrophobes. Elles peuvent donc stocker une molécule thérapeutique en grande quantité et ont la capacité de la libérer dans le temps.L’ensemble des paramètres du procédé de fonctionnalisation permettant l’adsorption de ces 2 couches successives : polydopamine et polymère de CD a pu être optimisé. La complexation de deux molécules thérapeutiques d’intérêt à notre plateforme fonctionnalisée a pu être réalisée: la simvastatine et le paclitaxel. La simvastatine, de la famille des statines, est une molécule pléïotrope, régulatrice de la dysfonction endothéliale ; elle limite la réaction inflammatoire locale impliquée à la fois dans les phénomènes de resténose et de thrombose [Balk EM et al., Am J Med. 2004]. Le paclitaxel est un agent immunosuppresseur et antiprolifératif limitant la prolifération de la néointima [Creel CJ et al., Circ Res 2000]. Nous avons comparé notre plateforme avec un système actuellement sur le marché, le système PTX « polymer-free » mise au point par Dake et al. [Dake et al., JVIR 2011]. [...] / This work has focused on 2 major issues encountered after angioplasty and stenting of arterial occlusive disease: intra-stent restenosis and thrombosis.To prevent these postoperative complications, drug eluting stents (DES) have been developed and are currently available for clinical use; they elute antiproliferative drugs overtime which limit smooth muscle cells migration and proliferation. Long-term results of DES are jeopardized by a high late in-stent thrombosis rate (RR 1.2 vs bare metal stent) which is correlated to a higher late death rate (RR 1.32 vs bare metal stent) [Lagerqvist Bo et al., N Eng J Med 2007]. We present an original process of immobilization of a specific anchor on a metallic substrate which has the ability to directly immobilize drugs onto the metallic surface. It can also indirectly using specific biocompatible polymers load drugs onto the metallic surface which would be eluted overtime. The target for both systems is the cellular response involved in the restenosis and thrombosis process.This specific anchor, which is dedicated to several substrates, is developed from marine mussels gel [Waite JH et al., Science 1981]. It is currently a common basis for covalent immobilization of drugs and/or polymer systems able to sustain drug release.The first part of the project involved the development of a specific chemical anchor through an immobilization surface strategy. This dopamine anchor includes an activated ester, which is the starting point of the creation of a polymer with defined and controlled chain length. The generated polymer of N-(Acryloyloxy)succinimide has the ability to absorb a controlled and defined amount of drug; it has been linked with glucosamine to illustrate the potential of the system - glucosamine is a proteoglycan from the extracellular matrix of the arterial wall. The system has then been characterized and optimized for every parameters; unfortunately, results were not as good as expected regarding SMC proliferation.The Dopamine anchor has thus been modified to allow interactions with more chemical functions, including amino- and carboxylic functions. Finally, we used it under alkaline conditions (pH=8.5) where dopamine generated a network of polydopamine [Lee et al., Science 2007].Afterwards, we report an original functionalization of metallic surfaces with a hydrophilic, biocompatible and biodegradable cyclodextrin based polymer. This polymer acts as a reservoir for hydrophobic drugs allowing the sustained release of anti-proliferative drugs and promotes natural arterial wall healing. The polymer of CD is well-known in our research department and has already been used as an active coating onto textile for vascular devices [Martel B et al., European Polymer Journal 1995]. In this setting polydopamine was applied as a first coating layer onto the metallic surface in order to promote a strong anchorage of a cyclodextrin based polymer that was “in situ” generated from the native cyclodextrins and citric acid as a crosslinking agent through a polycondensation reaction. After optimization of the grafting process, the ability of this system to act as a drug eluting system was evaluated with paclitaxel (PTX) and simvastatine. PTX is a reference drug for current vascular drug eluting stents [Creel CJ et al., Circ Res 2000]. PTX is currently coated on vascular stents with a “polymer-free” method [Dake et al., JVIR 2011]. It is a highly lipophilic antiproliferative drug, and that “polymer free” system was compared as a positive control to our functionalized scaffold. We compared the results of our functionalized surface loaded of PTX and Simvastatin. Simvastatin is a pleiotropic molecule with targeted actions on arterial disease, inflammatory process and dyslipidemia [Balk EM et al., Am J Med. 2004]. [...]

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.

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Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder that affects a person’s ability to either produce insulin (Type I diabetes mellitus) or properly use insulin (Type II diabetes mellitus) in order to maintain adequate blood glucose levels. The most severe diabetic complications arise due to hyperglycemia – a state of extremely high blood glucose levels – such as, coronary artery disease (CAD), in which coronary stent therapy is a popular method of treatment. However, research has shown a high rate of in-stent restenosis in diabetic patients with CAD, most likely due to activation of cellular adhesion molecules on endothelial cells exposed to the hyperglycemic environment. Blood vessel mimics (BVMs) have been researched as viable options for in vitro studies on vascular stents; thus, it would be beneficial to create an in vitro diabetic BVM for stent manufactures to evaluate and determine the root cause of the high failure rate of stents in the diabetic population. In addition, a diabetic BVM would help manufactures optimize coatings or stent configurations for diabetic patients. Methods: The purpose of this thesis was to take the initial steps towards the goal of a diabetic BVM. The first aim was to establish a procedure of developing glycemic cell media solutions of various glucose concentrations, and to establish a feasible method of monitoring the glucose concentration of the solutions. Glycemic cell media solutions were developed and their glucose concentrations were evaluated with a blood glucose meter (specifically, the Aviva Accu-Chek blood glucose meter) or visual blood glucose test strips (Glucoflex R visual blood glucose test strips). The second aim was to ensure that the developed glycemic cell media solutions could be monitored in a cell culture environment over time, and to determine if the hyperglycemic conditions induced any change to endothelial cells. Bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used to evaluate glucose consumption and cell morphology. Glucose concentration of the cell media was recorded to evaluate glucose consumption, and the cells were evaluated under a microscope in order to determine cell morphology and an increase in cell death. Results & Conclusions: Data accumulated from the first set of experiments confirmed that glycemic cell media solutions can be developed by adding Sigma G6512 D-(+)-glucose to base cell media. Additionally, the Aviva Accu-Chek blood glucose meter recorded the most accurate and precise glucose concentrations of the various glycemic cell media solutions compared to the Glucoflex-R blood glucose visual test strips. Lastly, the series of experiments with BAECs and HUVECs confirmed that the glycemic cell media solutions could be effectively monitored over time, and that these conditions evoked higher glucose consumption by the endothelial cells compared to the normal glycemic cell media solutions. Additionally, neither glycemic environment evoked significant cell death. These results met the aims of this thesis, and therefore provide the foundation for further development of a diabetic BVM.

Despite advancements in percutaneous coronary intervention, stents are still limited by a 2% annual rate of in-stent restenosis (ISR) related to neointimal (NI) tissue proliferation. Efforts to prevent ISR formation remain the focus of ongoing work. Adenosine (ADO) is a purine nucleoside with integral roles in vascular homeostasis, though it has limited clinical application. ADO signals primarily via four receptors with ADO receptor-A2B (ADOR-A2B) considered to play an integral role in vascular healing. Dipyridamole (DP) is a commercially approved therapy known to improve vascular events and modulate adenosine biology. Our objectives with this study included (i) assessing whether ADO could serve as a biomarker of cardiac events; (ii) determine if DP could mitigate NI formation in a pre-clinical stent model; and, (iii) quantify the mechanisms of DP-related vasculoprotection, specifically related to ADOR-A2B. We assessed the analytic and biologic variability of circulating ADO levels in humans and demonstrated that circulating ADO was not predictive of cardiac events at one year following invasive coronary angiography. We then assessed whether modulation of adenosine biology with DP had therapeutic efficacy in a pre-clinical model. Utilizing meta-analysis, we confirmed the sustained effects of DP on vascular patency rates in both pre-clinical and clinical studies. We refined a pre-clinical rabbit model of stent implantation with assessment of stent healing by intravascular optical coherence tomography – with excellent translation to clinical observations. We then assessed DP in a pre-clinical model, demonstrating reduction in ISR and improved stent healing with DP compared to control. Last, we sought to elucidate the mechanisms behind the observed DP effects, specifically related to ADOR-A2B. In vivo, DP therapy demonstrated reduced NI smooth muscle cell (SMC) content. In vitro assessment of DP demonstrated dose-dependent inhibition of SMC proliferation and migration with alteration of SMC phenotypic switching, while selective modulation of ADOR-A2B and ADOR-A2B knockdown support an ADOR-A2B-mediated component to the observed DP effects. Adenosine biology is integral to vascular homeostasis. In humans, circulating adenosine levels in humans are not predictive of one year cardiovascular events. However, DP may improve vascular healing post stent implantation and warrants clinical evaluation for stent healing. The observed DP benefits may, in part, stem from ADOR-A2B modulation. ADOR-A2B is a viable target for assessment of small molecule modulation as a novel therapeutic target to improve vascular outcomes.

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