Increasing pulse pressure ex vivo, mimicking acute physical exercise, induces smooth muscle cell-mediated de-stiffening of murine aortic segments.

The mechanisms by which physical activity affects cardiovascular function and physiology are complex and multifactorial. In the present study, cardiac output during rest or acute physical activity was simulated in isolated aortic segments of healthy C57BL/6J wild-type mice. This was performed using the Rodent Oscillatory Tension Set-up to study Arterial Compliance (ROTSAC) by applying cyclic stretch of different amplitude, duration and frequency in well-controlled and manageable experimental conditions. Our data show that vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of the aorta have the intrinsic ability to "de-stiffen" or "relax" after periods of high cyclic stretch and to "re-stiffen" slowly thereafter upon return to normal distension pressures. Thereby, certain conditions have to be fulfilled: 1) VSMC contraction and repetitive stretching (loading/unloading cycles) are a prerequisite to induce post-exercise de-stiffening; 2) one bout of high cyclic stretch is enough to induce de- and re-stiffening. Aortic de-stiffening was highly dependent on cyclic stretch amplitude and on the manner and timing of contraction with probable involvement of focal adhesion phosphorylation/activation. Results of this study may have implications for the therapeutic potential of regular and acute physical activity and its role in the prevention and/or treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Incidence and Thickness of Cutaneous Melanoma in Belgium.

(1) Background: COVID-19 had a major impact on cancer diagnostics and treatment. Delays in diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma were particularly feared, given the impact on survival and morbidity that comes with advanced stages. Moreover, its incidence in Belgium has been rapidly increasing in recent decades. This Belgian population-level study quantifies the pandemic effect on the number of melanoma diagnoses and Breslow thickness in 2020 and 2021. (2) Methods: In using an automated algorithm, the number of cutaneous melanoma diagnoses and Breslow thickness were extracted from all pathology protocols from 2017-2021 by the Belgian Cancer Registry. Monthly variations, as well as year-to-year differences, were studied. (3) Results: Annual incidence of cutaneous melanoma fell by 1% in 2020, compared to 2019, mainly due to a diagnostic deficit in March, April, and May 2020. An 8% incidence increase occurred in 2021, primarily reflecting an increase in the number of the thinnest melanomas (≤1 mm). Both the mean and median Breslow thicknesses were higher in spring 2020, resulting from an underrepresentation of thinner tumors. However, no particulars stood out on a full-year basis in either 2020 or 2021. (4) Conclusions: Considering the expected incidence increase, we estimate almost 210 melanoma diagnoses were missed in Belgium in 2020, corresponding to 6% of the expected number. This deficit occurred mainly during the first COVID-19 wave. Despite some rebound, the 2021 total was still 3% short of the expected number, leaving around 325 diagnoses remaining pending in 2020 and 2021, corresponding to a two-year deficit of 4.35%. Fortunately, mainly thin melanomas were missed, without any detectable shift toward thicker tumors later in 2020 and or 2021.

Aortic Stiffness in L-NAME Treated C57Bl/6 Mice Displays a Shift From Early Endothelial Dysfunction to Late-Term Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Dysfunction.

Introduction and Aims: Endothelial dysfunction is recognized as a cardiovascular aging hallmark. Administration of nitric oxide synthase blocker N-Ω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) constitutes a well-known small animal model of cardiovascular aging. Despite extensive phenotypic characterization, the exact aortic function changes in L-NAME treated mice are largely unknown. Therefore, this study presents a longitudinal characterization of the aortic reactivity and biomechanical alterations in L-NAME treated C57Bl/6 mice. Methods and Results: Male C57Bl/6 mice were treated with L-NAME (0.5 mg/ml drinking water) for 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 weeks. Peripheral blood pressure measurement (tail-cuff) and transthoracic echocardiograms were recorded, showing progressive hypertension after 4 weeks of treatment and progressive cardiac hypertrophy after 8-16 weeks of treatment. Aortic stiffness was measured in vivo as aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV, ultrasound) and ex vivo as Peterson modulus (Ep). Aortic reactivity and biomechanics were investigated ex vivo in thoracic aortic rings, mounted isometrically or dynamically-stretched in organ bath set-ups. Aortic stiffening was heightened in L-NAME treated mice after all treatment durations, thereby preceding the development of hypertension and cardiac aging. L-NAME treatment doubled the rate of arterial stiffening compared to control mice, and displayed an attenuation of the elevated aortic stiffness at high distending pressure, possibly due to late-term reduction of medial collagen types I, III, and IV content. Remarkably, endothelial dysfunction, measured by acetylcholine concentration-response stimulation in precontracted aortic rings, was only observed after short-term (1-4 weeks) treatment, followed by restoration of endothelial function which coincided with increased phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (S1177). In the late-disease phase (8-16 weeks), vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) dysfunction developed, including increased contribution of voltage-dependent calcium channels (assessed by inhibition with diltiazem), basal VSMC cytoplasmic calcium loading (assessed by removal of extracellular calcium), and heightened intracellular contractile calcium handling (assessed by measurement of sarcoplasmic reticulum-mediated transient contractions). Conclusion: Arterial stiffness precedes peripheral hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy in chronic L-NAME treated male C57Bl/6 mice. The underlying aortic disease mechanisms underwent a distinct shift from early endothelial dysfunction to late-term VSMC dysfunction, with continued disease progression.

Progressive aortic stiffness in aging C57Bl/6 mice displays altered contractile behaviour and extracellular matrix changes.

Aortic stiffness is a hallmark of cardiovascular disease, but its pathophysiology remains incompletely understood. This study presents an in-dept characterization of aortic aging in male C57Bl/6 mice (2-24 months). Cardiovascular measurements include echocardiography, blood pressure measurement, and ex vivo organ chamber experiments. In vivo and ex vivo aortic stiffness increases with age, and precede the development of cardiac hypertrophy and peripheral blood pressure alterations. Contraction-independent stiffening (due to extracellular matrix changes) is pressure-dependent. Contraction-dependent aortic stiffening develops through heightened α1-adrenergic contractility, aberrant voltage-gated calcium channel function, and altered vascular smooth muscle cell calcium handling. Endothelial dysfunction is limited to a modest decrease in sensitivity to acetylcholine-induced relaxation with age. Our findings demonstrate that progressive arterial stiffening in C57Bl/6 mice precedes associated cardiovascular disease. Aortic aging is due to changes in extracellular matrix and vascular smooth muscle cell signalling, and not to altered endothelial function.

Mouse aortic biomechanics are affected by short-term defective autophagy in vascular smooth muscle cells.

The physiology of vascular smooth muscle (VSMC) cells is affected by autophagy, a catabolic cellular mechanism responsible for nutrient recycling. Autophagy-inducing compounds may reverse arterial stiffening, whereas congenital VSMC-specific autophagy deficiency promotes arterial stiffening. The elevated aortic stiffness in 3.5-month-old C57Bl/6 mice, in which the essential autophagy-related gene Atg7 was specifically deleted in the VSMCs (Atg7F/F SM22α-Cre+ mice) was mainly due to passive aortic wall remodeling. The present study investigated whether aortic stiffness was also modulated by a shorter duration of autophagy deficiency. Therefore, aortic segments of 2-month-old Atg7F/F SM22α-Cre+ mice were studied. Similarly to the older mice, autophagy deficiency in VSMCs promoted aortic stiffening by elastin degradation and elastin breaks, and increased the expression of the calcium binding protein S100A4 (+ 157%), the aortic wall thickness (+ 27%), the sensitivity of the VSMCs to depolarization and the contribution of VGCC mediated Ca2+ influx to α1 adrenergic contractions. Hence, all these phenomena occurred before the age of 2 months. When compared to autophagy deficiency in VSMCs at 3.5 months, shorter term autophagy deficiency led to higher segment diameter at 80 mmHg (+ 7% versus - 2%), normal baseline tonus (versus increased), unchanged IP3-mediated phasic contractions (versus enhanced), and enhanced endothelial cell function (versus normal). Overall, and because in vivo cardiac parameters or aortic pulse wave velocity were not affected, these observations indicate that congenital autophagy deficiency in VSMCs of Atg7F/F SM22α-Cre+ mice initiates compensatory mechanisms to maintain circulatory homeostasis.

Aortic Stiffness Hysteresis in Isolated Mouse Aortic Segments Is Intensified by Contractile Stimuli, Attenuated by Age, and Reversed by Elastin Degradation.

Aim: Cyclic stretch of vascular tissue at any given pressure reveals greater dimensions during unloading than during loading, which determines the cardiac beat-by-beat hysteresis loop on the pressure-diameter/volume relationship. The present study did not focus on hysteresis during a single stretch cycle but investigated whether aortic stiffness determined during continuous stretch at different pressures also displayed hysteresis phenomena. Methods: Aortic segments from C57Bl6 mice were mounted in the Rodent Oscillatory Set-up for Arterial Compliance (ROTSAC), where they were subjected to high frequency (10 Hz) cyclic stretch at alternating loads equivalent to a constant theoretical pulse pressure of 40 mm Hg. Diastolic and systolic diameter, compliance, and the Peterson elastic modulus (Ep), as a measure of aortic stiffness, was determined starting at cyclic stretch between alternating loads corresponding to 40 and 80 mm Hg, at each gradual load increase equivalent to 20 mm Hg, up to loads equivalent to pressures of 220 and 260 mm Hg (loading direction) and then repeated in the downward direction (unloading direction). This was performed in baseline conditions and following contraction by α1 adrenergic stimulation with phenylephrine or by depolarization with high extracellular K+ in aortas of young (5 months), aged (26 months) mice, and in segments treated with elastase. Results: In baseline conditions, diastolic/systolic diameters and compliance for a pulse pressure of 40 mm Hg were larger at any given pressure upon unloading (decreasing pressure) than loading (increasing pressure) of the aortic segments. The pressure-aortic stiffness (Ep) relationship was similar in the loading and unloading directions, and aortic hysteresis was absent. On the other hand, hysteresis was evident after activation of the VSMCs with the α1 adrenergic agonist phenylephrine and with depolarization by high extracellular K+, especially after inhibition of basal NO release with L-NAME. Aortic stiffness was significantly smaller in the unloading than in the loading direction. In comparison with young mice, old-mouse aortic segments also displayed contraction-dependent aortic hysteresis, but hysteresis was shifted to a lower pressure range. Elastase-treated segments showed higher stiffness upon unloading over nearly the whole pressure range. Conclusions: Mouse aortic segments display pressure- and contraction-dependent diameter, compliance, and stiffness hysteresis phenomena, which are modulated by age and VSMC-extracellular matrix interactions. This may have implications for aortic biomechanics in pathophysiological conditions and aging.

Neuregulin-1 compensates for endothelial nitric oxide synthase deficiency.

Endothelial cells (ECs) secrete different paracrine signals that modulate the function of adjacent cells; two examples of these paracrine signals are nitric oxide (NO) and neuregulin-1 (NRG1), a cardioprotective growth factor. Currently, it is undetermined whether one paracrine factor can compensate for the loss of another. Herein, we hypothesized that NRG1 can compensate for endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) deficiency. We characterized eNOS null and wild-type (WT) mice by cardiac ultrasound and histology and we determined circulating NRG1 levels. In a separate experiment, eight groups of mice were divided into four groups of eNOS null mice and WT mice; half of the mice received angiotensin II (ANG II) to induce a more severe phenotype. Mice were randomized to daily injections with NRG1 or vehicle for 28 days. eNOS deficiency increased NRG1 plasma levels, indicating that ECs increase their NRG1 expression when NO production is deleted. eNOS deficiency also increased blood pressure, lowered heart rate, induced cardiac fibrosis, and affected diastolic function. In eNOS null mice, ANG II administration not only increased cardiac fibrosis but also induced cardiac hypertrophy and renal fibrosis. NRG1 administration prevented cardiac and renal hypertrophy and fibrosis caused by ANG II infusion and eNOS deficiency. Moreover, Nrg1 expression in the myocardium is shown to be regulated by miR-134. This study indicates that administration of endothelium-derived NRG1 can compensate for eNOS deficiency in the heart and kidneys.NEW & NOTEWORTHY ECs compensate for eNOS deficiency by increasing the secretion of NRG1. NRG1 administration prevents cardiac and renal hypertrophy and fibrosis caused by ANG II infusion and eNOS deficiency. NRG1 expression is regulated by miR-134.

Prdm16 Supports Arterial Flow Recovery by Maintaining Endothelial Function.

[Figure: see text].

Defective autophagy in vascular smooth muscle cells increases passive stiffness of the mouse aortic vessel wall.

Aging and associated progressive arterial stiffening are both important predictors for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Recent evidence showed that autophagy, a catabolic cellular mechanism responsible for nutrient recycling, plays a major role in the physiology of vascular cells such as endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Moreover, several autophagy inducing compounds are effective in treating arterial stiffness. Yet, a direct link between VSMC autophagy and arterial stiffness remains largely unidentified. Therefore, we investigated the effects of a VSMC-specific deletion of the essential autophagy-related gene Atg7 in young mice (3.5 months) (Atg7F/F SM22α-Cre+ mice) on the biomechanical properties of the aorta, using an in-house developed Rodent Oscillatory Tension Set-up to study Arterial Compliance (ROTSAC). Aortic segments of Atg7F/F SM22α-Cre+ mice displayed attenuated compliance and higher arterial stiffness, which was more evident at higher distention pressures. Passive aortic wall remodeling, rather than differences in VSMC tone, is responsible for these phenomena, since differences in compliance and stiffness between Atg7+/+ SM22α-Cre+ and Atg7F/F SM22α-Cre+ aortas were more pronounced when VSMCs were completely relaxed by the addition of exogenous nitric oxide. These observations are supported by histological data showing a 13% increase in medial wall thickness and a 14% decrease in elastin along with elevated elastin fragmentation. In addition, expression of the calcium-binding protein S100A4, which is linked to matrix remodeling, was elevated in aortic segments of Atg7F/F SM22α-Cre+ mice. Overall, these findings illustrate that autophagy exerts a crucial role in defining arterial wall compliance.

Ex vivo aortic stiffness in mice with different eNOS activity.

An important physiological role of the aorta is to convert the pulsatile blood flow that originates in the heart to a nearly continuous flow in the peripheral vessels. Previously, we demonstrated that basal, unstimulated nitric oxide (NO) production is more abundant in large as compared with muscular arteries and that it is an important regulator of arterial (aortic) stiffness. Hence, endothelial function and NO bioavailability are important determinants of aortic biomechanics, and mouse models with altered NO signaling might be of interest to investigate the (patho)physiological role of the NO signaling as a dynamic regulator of arterial stiffness. We aimed to characterize the ex vivo biomechanical properties of aortic segments from mice with no (eNOS-/-), normal [wild type (WT)], or high (eNOS-tg) endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) expression. Isobaric aortic diameter and compliance were lower in eNOS-/- mice and increased in eNOS-tg mice as compared with WT mice. Interestingly, these differences remained when NO levels were pharmacologically restored ex vivo, suggesting that they were not merely the result of a lack or excess of the vasodilator effects of NO. Analysis of basal vascular smooth muscle cell tone and the phasic as well as the tonic contraction in response to α1-adrenergic stimulation with phenylephrine revealed that the chronic lack of eNOS expression affected aortic reactivity similarly but with different magnitude as compared with acute eNOS blockade using Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester in WT and eNOS-tg mice, suggesting that chronical distortion of NO signaling triggered several compensatory mechanisms that reflect the organism's attempt to restore the contractile imbalance and maintain optimal central hemodynamics.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Endothelial function and NO bioavailability are important determinants of aortic biomechanics and function. With a new technique we investigated the ex vivo aortic segment biomechanics of different mouse models with altered NO signaling. Our experiments clearly show that chronic distortion of NO signaling triggered several compensatory mechanisms that reflect the organism's attempt to maintain optimal central hemodynamics.

Vascular smooth muscle cell contraction and relaxation in the isolated aorta: a critical regulator of large artery compliance.

Over the past few decades, isometric contraction studies of isolated thoracic aorta segments have significantly contributed to our overall understanding of the active, contractile properties of aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and their cross-talk with endothelial cells. However, the physiological role of VSMC contraction or relaxation in the healthy aorta and its contribution to the pulse-smoothening capacity of the aorta is currently unclear. Therefore, we investigated the acute effects of VSMC contraction and relaxation on the isobaric biomechanical properties of healthy mouse aorta. An in-house developed set-up was used to measure isobaric stiffness parameters of periodically stretched (10 Hz) aortic segments at an extended pressure range, while pharmacologically modulating VSMC tone and endothelial cell function. We found that the effects of α1-adrenergic stimulation with phenylephrine on the pressure-stiffness relationship varied in sensitivity, magnitude and direction, with the basal, unstimulated NO production by the endothelium playing a pivotal role. We also investigated how arterial disease affected this system by using the angiotensin-II-treated mouse. Our results show that isobaric stiffness was increased and that the aortic segments demonstrated a reduced capacity for modulating the pressure-stiffness relationship. This suggests that not only increased isobaric stiffness at normal pressure, but also a reduced capacity of the VSMCs to limit the pressure-associated increase in aortic stiffness, may contribute to the pathogenesis of this mouse model. Overall, this study provides more insight in how aortic VSMC tone affects the pressure-dependency of aortic biomechanics at different physiological and pathological conditions.

Short-Term Angiotensin II Treatment Affects Large Artery Biomechanics and Function in the Absence of Small Artery Alterations in Mice.

Induction of hypertension by angiotensin II (AngII) is a widely used experimental stimulus to study vascular aging in mice. It is associated with large artery stiffness, a hallmark of arterial aging and a root cause of increased cardiovascular risk. We reported earlier that long term (4 week) AngII treatment in mice altered the active, contractile properties of the arteries in a vascular bed-specific manner and that, in healthy mice aorta, active contractile properties of the aortic wall determine isobaric aortic stiffness. Given the huge physiological relevance of large artery stiffening, we aimed to characterize the early (1 week) changes in the active properties of the aorta of AngII-treated mice. We were not able to detect a significant effect of AngII treatment on anesthetized blood pressure or abdominal aorta pulse wave velocity. Ex vivo biomechanical and functional studies of the aorta revealed increased arterial stiffness and altered vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) and endothelial cell reactivity. Interestingly, the AngII-associated changes in the aorta could be largely attributed to alterations in basal VSMC tone and basal nitric oxide efficacy, indicating that, besides structural remodeling of the arterial wall, dysfunctional active components of the aorta play a crucial role in the pathophysiological mechanisms by which AngII treatment induces arterial stiffness.

Cyclic Stretch Alters Vascular Reactivity of Mouse Aortic Segments.

Large, elastic arteries buffer the pressure wave originating in the left ventricle and are constantly exposed to higher amplitudes of cyclic stretch (10%) than muscular arteries (2%). As a crucial factor for endothelial and smooth muscle cell function, cyclic stretch has, however, never been studied in ex vivo aortic segments of mice. To investigate the effects of cyclic stretch on vaso-reactivity of mouse aortic segments, we used the Rodent Oscillatory Tension Set-up to study Arterial Compliance (ROTSAC). The aortic segments were clamped at frequencies of 6-600 bpm between two variable preloads, thereby mimicking dilation as upon left ventricular systole and recoiling as during diastole. The preloads corresponding to different transmural pressures were chosen to correspond to a low, normal or high amplitude of cyclic stretch. At different time intervals, cyclic stretch was interrupted, the segments were afterloaded and isometric contractions by α1-adrenergic stimulation with 2 µM phenylephrine in the absence and presence of 300 µM L-NAME (eNOS inhibitor) and/or 35 µM diltiazem (blocker of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels) were measured. As compared with static or cyclic stretch at low amplitude (<10 mN) or low frequency (0.1 Hz), cyclic stretch at physiological amplitude (>10 mN) and frequency (1-10 Hz) caused better ex vivo conservation of basal NO release with time after mounting. The relaxation of PE-precontracted segments by addition of ACh to stimulate NO release was unaffected by cyclic stretch. In the absence of basal NO release (hence, presence of L-NAME), physiological in comparison with aberrant cyclic stretch decreased the baseline tension, attenuated the phasic contraction by phenylephrine in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ and shifted the smaller tonic contraction more from a voltage-gated Ca2+ channel-mediated to a non-selective cation channel-mediated. Data highlight the need of sufficient mechanical activation of endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells to maintain basal NO release and low intracellular Ca2+ in the smooth muscle cells in large arteries. Both phenomena may play a vital role in maintaining the high compliance of large arteries.

Endothelial Senescence Contributes to Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction in an Aging Mouse Model.

BACKGROUND: Because of global aging, the prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) continues to rise. Although HFpEF pathophysiology remains incompletely understood, endothelial inflammation is stated to play a central role. Cellular senescence is a process of cellular growth arrest linked with aging and inflammation. We used mice with accelerated aging to investigate the role of cellular senescence in HFpEF development. METHODS AND RESULTS: Senescence-accelerated mice (SAM, n=18) and control mice with normal senescence (n=15) were fed normal chow or a high-fat, high-salt diet (WD). Vascular and cardiac function was assessed at 8, 16, and 24 weeks of age. At 24 weeks, both SAM on WD (SAM-WD) and SAM on regular diet displayed endothelial dysfunction, as evidenced by impaired acetylcholine-induced relaxation of aortic segments and reduced basal nitric oxide. At week 24, SAM-WD had developed HFpEF, characterized by diastolic dysfunction, left ventricular hypertrophy, left atrial dilatation, and interstitial fibrosis. Also, exercise capacity was reduced and lung weight increased. Cardiovascular inflammation and senescence were assessed by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining of hearts and aortas. SAM-WD showed increased endothelial inflammation (intercellular adhesion molecule 1 expression) and increased endothelial senescence (acetyl-p53/CD31 costaining). The latter correlated with diastolic function and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 expression. CONCLUSIONS: SAM develop endothelial dysfunction. Adding a high-salt, high-fat diet accelerates endothelial senescence and instigates endothelial inflammation. This coincides with hemodynamic and structural changes typical of HFpEF. Targeting endothelial senescence could be a new therapeutic avenue in HFpEF.

Isometric Stretch Alters Vascular Reactivity of Mouse Aortic Segments.

Most vaso-reactive studies in mouse aortic segments are performed in isometric conditions and at an optimal preload, which is the preload corresponding to a maximal contraction by non-receptor or receptor-mediated stimulation. In general, this optimal preload ranges from about 1.2 to 8.0 mN/mm, which according to Laplace's law roughly correlates with transmural pressures of 10-65 mmHg. For physiologic transmural pressures around 100 mmHg, preloads of 15.0 mN/mm should be implemented. The present study aimed to compare vascular reactivity of 2 mm mouse (C57Bl6) aortic segments preloaded at optimal (8.0 mN/mm) vs. (patho) physiological (10.0-32.5 mN/mm) preload. Voltage-dependent contractions of aortic segments, induced by increasing extracellular K+, and contractions by α1-adrenergic stimulation with phenylephrine (PE) were studied at these preloads in the absence and presence of L-NAME to inhibit basal release of NO from endothelial cells (EC). In the absence of basal NO release and with higher than optimal preload, contractions evoked by depolarization or PE were attenuated, whereas in the presence of basal release of NO PE-, but not depolarization-induced contractions were preload-independent. Phasic contractions by PE, as measured in the absence of external Ca2+, were decreased at higher than optimal preload suggestive for a lower contractile SR Ca2+ content at physiological preload. Further, in the presence of external Ca2+, contractions by Ca2+ influx via voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels were preload-independent, whereas non-selective cation channel-mediated contractions were increased. The latter contractions were very sensitive to the basal release of NO, which itself seemed to be preload-independent. Relaxation by endogenous NO (acetylcholine) of aortic segments pre-contracted with PE was preload-independent, whereas relaxation by exogenous NO (diethylamine NONOate) displayed higher sensitivity at high preload. Results indicated that stretching aortic segments to higher than optimal preload depolarizes the SMC and causes Ca2+ unloading of the contractile SR, making them extremely sensitive to small changes in the basal release of NO from EC as can occur in hypertension or arterial stiffening.

Continuous administration of the mTORC1 inhibitor everolimus induces tolerance and decreases autophagy in mice.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Everolimus is an allosteric inhibitor of the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) widely known for its potent autophagy stimulating properties. Because everolimus shows poor solubility and stability in aqueous solutions, long-term in vivo administration in preclinical models is challenging. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of short-term and long-term everolimus administration on mTORC1 inhibition and autophagy induction in mice. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: We developed a vehicle in which everolimus was solubilized and stable at 37°C for at least 1 month. Using osmotic minipumps, GFP microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 transgenic mice were treated continuously either with vehicle or everolimus (1.5 mg·kg-1 per day) for 3 or 28 days. Alternatively, a regimen consisting of intermittent everolimus administration (every other day) for 56 days by oral gavage was used. Autophagy markers and mTORC1 activation status were investigated in the liver. KEY RESULTS: As expected, everolimus inhibited mTORC1 and stimulated autophagy in the liver after 3 days of treatment. However, continuous administration for 28 days resulted in hyperactivation of the Akt1-mTORC1 pathway accompanied by a remarkable decrease in autophagy markers. Everolimus given intermittently for 56 days partially rescued mTORC1 sensitivity to the drug but without inducing autophagy. The failure to induce autophagy following long-term everolimus administration was due to uncoupling of the mTORC1 substrate unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Our data encourage the use of intermittent everolimus regimens to prevent tolerance and to extend its activity.

A novel set-up for the ex vivo analysis of mechanical properties of mouse aortic segments stretched at physiological pressure and frequency.

KEY POINTS: Cyclic stretch is known to alter intracellular pathways involved in vessel tone regulation. We developed a novel set-up that allows straightforward characterization of the biomechanical properties of the mouse aorta while stretched at a physiological heart rate (600 beats min-1 ). Active vessel tone was shown to have surprisingly large effects on isobaric stiffness. The effect of structural vessel wall alterations was confirmed using a genetic mouse model. This set-up will contribute to a better understanding of how active vessel wall components and mechanical stimuli such as stretch frequency and amplitude regulate aortic mechanics. ABSTRACT: Cyclic stretch is a major contributor to vascular function. However, isolated mouse aortas are frequently studied at low stretch frequency or even in isometric conditions. Pacing experiments in rodents and humans show that arterial compliance is stretch frequency dependent. The Rodent Oscillatory Tension Set-up to study Arterial Compliance is an in-house developed organ bath set-up that clamps aortic segments to imposed preloads at physiological rates up to 600 beats min-1 . The technique enables us to derive pressure-diameter loops and assess biomechanical properties of the segment. To validate the applicability of this set-up we aimed to confirm the effects of distension pressure and vascular smooth muscle tone on arterial stiffness. At physiological stretch frequency (10 Hz), the Peterson modulus (EP ; 293 (10) mmHg) for wild-type mouse aorta increased 22% upon a rise in pressure from 80-120 mmHg to 100-140 mmHg, while, at normal pressure, EP increased 80% upon maximal contraction of the vascular smooth muscle cells. We further validated the method using a mouse model with a mutation in the fibrillin-1 gene and an endothelial nitric oxide synthase knock-out model. Both models are known to have increased arterial stiffness, and this was confirmed using the set-up. To our knowledge, this is the first set-up that facilitates the study of biomechanical properties of mouse aortic segments at physiological stretch frequency and pressure. We believe that this set-up can contribute to a better understanding of how cyclic stretch frequency, amplitude and active vessel wall components influence arterial stiffening.

Effect of angiotensin II-induced arterial hypertension on the voltage-dependent contractions of mouse arteries.

Arterial hypertension (AHT) affects the voltage dependency of L-type Ca(2+) channels in cardiomyocytes. We analyzed the effect of angiotensin II (AngII)-induced AHT on L-type Ca(2+) channel-mediated isometric contractions in conduit arteries. AHT was induced in C57Bl6 mice with AngII-filled osmotic mini-pumps (4 weeks). Normotensive mice treated with saline-filled osmotic mini-pumps were used for comparison. Voltage-dependent contractions mediated by L-type Ca(2+) channels were studied in vaso-reactive studies in vitro in isolated aortic and femoral arteries by using extracellular K(+) concentration-response (KDR) experiments. In aortic segments, AngII-induced AHT significantly sensitized isometric contractions induced by elevated extracellular K(+) and depolarization. This sensitization was partly prevented by normalizing blood pressure with hydralazine, suggesting that it was caused by AHT rather than by direct AngII effects on aortic smooth muscle cells. The EC50 for extracellular K(+) obtained in vitro correlated significantly with the rise in arterial blood pressure induced by AngII in vivo. The AHT-induced sensitization persisted when aortic segments were exposed to levcromakalim or to inhibitors of basal nitric oxide release. Consistent with these observations, AngII-treatment also sensitized the vaso-relaxing effects of the L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker diltiazem during K(+)-induced contractions. Unlike aorta, AngII-treatment desensitized the isometric contractions to depolarization in femoral arteries pointing to vascular bed specific responses of arteries to hypertension. AHT affects the voltage-dependent L-type Ca(2+) channel-mediated contraction of conduit arteries. This effect may contribute to the decreased vascular compliance in AHT and explain the efficacy of Ca(2+) channel blockers to reduce vascular stiffness and central blood pressure in AHT.

Elastic and Muscular Arteries Differ in Structure, Basal NO Production and Voltage-Gated Ca(2+)-Channels.

In the last decades, the search for mechanisms underlying progressive arterial stiffening and for interventions to avoid or reverse this process has gained much attention. In general, arterial stiffening displays regional variation and is, for example, during aging more prominent in elastic than in muscular arteries. We hypothesize that besides passive also active regulators of arterial compliance [i.e., endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) function] differ between these arteries. Hence, it is conceivable that these vessel types will display different time frames of stiffening. To investigate this hypothesis segments of muscular arteries such as femoral and mesenteric arteries and elastic arteries such as the aorta and carotid artery were isolated from female C57Bl6 mice (5-6 months of age, n = 8). Both microscopy and passive stretching of the segments in a myograph confirmed that passive mechanical properties (elastin, collagen) of elastic and muscular arteries were significantly different. Endothelial function, more specifically basal nitric oxide (NO) efficacy, and VSMC function, more specifically L-type voltage-gated Ca(2+) channel (VGCC)-mediated contractions, were determined by α1-adrenoceptor stimulation with phenylephrine (PE) and by gradual depolarization with elevated extracellular K(+) in the absence and presence of eNOS inhibition with L-NAME. PE-mediated isometric contractions significantly increased after inhibition of NO release with L-NAME in elastic, but not in muscular vessel segments. This high basal eNOS activity in elastic vessels was also responsible for shifts of K(+) concentration-contraction curves to higher external K(+). VGCC-mediated contractions were similarly affected by depolarization with elevated K(+) in muscular artery segments or in elastic artery segments in the absence of basal NO. However, K(+)-induced contractions were inhibited by the VGCC blocker diltiazem with significantly higher sensitivity in the muscular arteries, suggestive of different populations of VGCC isoforms in both vessel types. The results from the present study demonstrate that, besides passive arterial wall components, also active functional components contribute to the heterogeneity of arterial compliance along the vascular tree. This crucially facilitates the search for (patho) physiological mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets to treat or reverse large artery stiffening as occurring in aging-induced arterial stiffening.

Basal activity of voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels controls the IP3-mediated contraction by α(1)-adrenoceptor stimulation of mouse aorta segments.

α1-Adrenoceptor stimulation of mouse aorta causes intracellular Ca(2+) release from sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) stores via stimulation of inositoltriphosphate (IP3) receptors. It is hypothesized that this Ca(2+) release from the contractile and IP3-sensitive Ca(2+) store is under the continuous dynamic control of time-independent basal Ca(2+) influx via L-type voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels (LCC) residing in their window voltage range. Mouse aortic segments were α1-adrenoceptor stimulated with phenylephrine in the absence of external Ca(2+) (0Ca) to measure phasic isometric contractions. They gradually decreased with time in 0Ca, were inhibited with 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate, and declined with previous membrane potential hyperpolarization (levcromakalim) or with previous inhibition of LCC (diltiazem). Former basal stimulation of LCC with depolarization (15 mM K(+)) or with BAY K8644 increased the subsequent phasic contractions by phenylephrine in 0Ca. Although exogenous NO (diethylamine NONOate) reduced the phasic contractions by phenylephrine, stimulation of endothelial cells with acetylcholine in 0Ca failed to attenuate these phasic contractions. Finally, inhibition of the basal release of NO with N(Ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester also attenuated the phasic contractions by phenylephrine. Results indicated that α1-adrenoceptor stimulation with phenylephrine causes phasic contractions, which are controlled by basal LCC and endothelial NO synthase activity. Endothelial NO release by acetylcholine was absent in 0Ca. Given the growing interest in the active regulation of arterial compliance, the dependence of contractile SR Ca(2+) store-refilling in basal conditions on the activity of LCC and basal eNOS may contribute to a more thorough understanding of physiological mechanisms leading to arterial stiffness.