Suppression of aortic elastic tissue autofluorescence for the detection of viral antigen.

Suppression of aortic elastic tissue autofluorescence was achieved by employing a modification of Verhoeff's elastic tissue staining procedure. Consquently, coxsackievirus B antigen present in the aortic media was detected by conventional fluorescent antibody staining.     

Angiogenesis inhibitor endostatin is a distinct component of elastic fibers in vessel walls.

Theendothelial cell inhibitor endostatin (22 kDa) is part of the carboxyl-terminal globular domain of collagen XVIII and shows a widespread tissue distribution. Immunohistology of adult mouse tissues demonstrated a preferred localization in many vessel walls and some other basement membrane zones. A strong immunogold staining was observed across elastic fibers in the multiple elastic membranes of aorta and other large arteries. Staining was less strong along sparse elastic fibers of veins and almost none was observed in the walls of arterioles and capillaries. Strong evidence was also obtained for some intracellular and basement membrane associations. Immunogold double staining of elastic fibers showed a close colocalization of endostatin with fibulin-2, fibulin-1, and nidogen-2, but not with perlecan. Reasonable amounts of endostatin could be extracted from aorta and skin by EDTA, followed by detergents, with aorta being the richest source of the inhibitor identified so far. Solubilizations with collagenase and elastase were approximately fivefold less efficient. Immunoblots of aortic extracts detected major endostatin components of 22-25 kDa whereas skin extracts also contained some larger components. Solid-phase assays demonstrated distinct binding of recombinant mouse endostatin to the fibulins and nidogen-2, consistent with their tissue colocalization. Together, the data indicate several different ways for endostatin to be associated with the extracellular matrix, and its release may determine biological activation. This also defines a novel function for some elastic tissues.     

Demonstration of Elastic Tissue and Iron or Elastic Tissue and Calcium Simultaneously

For the concomitant demonstration of iron and elastic tissue Perls' test solution was used, followed by Verhoeff's stain or Gomori's aldehyde fuchsin. When Perls' and Verhoeff's stain were used in sequence, the iron deposits were greenish blue and the elastic lamellae were black. When Perls' test solution was combined with aldehyde fuchsin the iron deposits were blue and elastic tissue purple. Calcium salts and elastic tissue were demonstrated concomitantly by using von Kossa's method followed by Gomori's aldehyde fuchsin. With such combined staining, the calcium salts appeared brownish black and elastic tissue purple. With these procedures, it was possible to see the exact relationship of calcium and iron deposits to the elastic tissue.     

The Application of Miller's Elastic Stain to Glycol Methacrylate Tissue Sections

The application of Miller's dilute elastic stain followed sequentially by Gill's III hematoxylin and a fast green counterstain produced a reliable and consistent method for differentially staining elastic fibers, nuclei, muscle and collagen in glycol methacrylate tissue sections. Evaluation of different methods of fixation and conditions of staining on animal tissue sections showed that elastic fibers in both perfusion and immersion fixed tissues can be intensely stained. The stability of Miller's elastic stain offers the potential of a commercially available histological stain reagent for coarse and fine elastic fibers in glycol methacrylate tissue sections.     

The application of Miller's elastic stain to glycol methacrylate tissue sections

The application of Miller's dilute elastic stain followed sequentially by Gill's III hematoxylin and a fast green counterstain produced a reliable and consistent method for differentially staining elastic fibers, nuclei, muscle and collagen in glycol methacrylate tissue sections. Evaluation of different methods of fixation and conditions of staining on animal tissue sections showed that elastic fibers in both perfusion and immersion fixed tissues can be intensely stained. The stability of Miller's elastic stain offers the potential of a commercially available histological stain reagent for coarse and fine elastic fibers in glycol methacrylate tissue sections.     

Demonstration of Elastic Tissue and Iron or Elastic Tissue and Calcium Simultaneously

For the concomitant demonstration of iron and elastic tissue Perls' test solution was used, followed by Verhoeff's stain or Gomori's aldehyde fuchsin. When Perls' and Verhoeff's stain were used in sequence, the iron deposits were greenish blue and the elastic lamellae were black. When Perls' test solution was combined with aldehyde fuchsin the iron deposits were blue and elastic tissue purple. Calcium salts and elastic tissue were demonstrated concomitantly by using von Kossa's method followed by Gomori's aldehyde fuchsin. With such combined staining, the calcium salts appeared brownish black and elastic tissue purple. With these procedures, it was possible to see the exact relationship of calcium and iron deposits to the elastic tissue.     

Adipose Stem Cells Promote Smooth Muscle Cells to Secrete Elastin in Rat Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Background

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening disease and its prevalence rate increases with social aging. The degradation of elastic is an important factor in the formation of AAA.

Methods

Adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were isolated from rats, and identified by Oil red O and alizarin red staining after adipogenesis and osteogenesis induction. In addition, ADSCs were also identified by flow cytometry with CD markers. AAA model in rats was established, and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) were isolated from AAA aortic wall and identified by immunohistochemistry. ADSCs or BMSCs were co-cultured with AAA aortic wall for in vitro experiment, and ADSCs were injected into AAA model for in vivo test. Then orcein staining was used for observing the morphology of elastic fiber, Western blot and real-time PCR were used respectively to detect the protein and gene expression of elastin, gelatinases spectrum analysis was used to detect the activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9.

Results

Lots of red lipid droplets were visible by Oil red O staining after adipogenesis induction, and black calcium nodules appeared by alizarin red staining after osteogenesis induction. The results of flow cytometry showed that ADSCs expressed CD44 and CD105, but exhibited negligible expression of CD31 and CD45. SMCs exhibited spindle-like morphology and α-actin protein was positive in cytoplasm. After co-cultured with ADSCs or BMSCs, the elastic fiber recovered normal winding shape, both the gene and protein expression of elastin increased, and the activity of MMP-2 decreased. The in vivo result was similar to that of in vitro.

Conclusions

ADSCs promote the expression of elastin in SMCs and contribute to the reconstruction of elastic fiber, which may provide new ideas for treating AAA.     

主动脉夹层血管壁中氧化应激蛋白NOX1 表达及意义

目的:探讨主动脉夹层(aortic dissection,AD)血管组织中氧化应激蛋白NOX1的表达及意义。方法:收集2014年~2015年在武汉大学人民医院AD患者升主动脉血管组织标本(AD组)及多器官捐献患者升主动脉血管组织标本(对照组)各12例。采用维多利亚蓝染色观察主动脉中膜弹性纤维形态结构;应用SP免疫组织化学法及Western blot法对标本组织中的NOX1进行检测分析。结果:AD组主动脉中膜弹性纤维形态和排列不规则、破碎、丢失,结构紊乱。免疫组织化学显示NOX1阳性表达见于主动脉壁平滑肌细胞胞质中,AD组与对照组比较,NOX1表达明显升高。Western blot蛋白印迹示AD组NOX1表达明显增高,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:NOX1在AD主动脉中膜中表达上调,可能在AD的发生中发挥作用。     

FTIR protein secondary structure analysis of human ascending aortic tissues

The advent of moderate dilatations in ascending aortas is often accompanied by structural modifications of the main components of the aortic tissue, elastin and collagen. In this study, we have undertaken an approach based on FTIR microscopy coupled to a curve‐fitting procedure to analyze secondary structure modifications in these proteins in human normal and pathological aortic tissues. We found that the outcome of the aortic pathology is strongly influenced by these proteins, which are abundant in the media of the aortic wall, and that the advent of an aortic dilatation is generally accompanied by a decrease of parallel β‐sheet structures. Elastin, essentially composed of β‐sheet structures, seems to be directly related to these changes and therefore indicative of the elastic alteration of the aortic wall. Conventional microscopy and confocal fluorescence microscopy were used to compare FTIR microscopy results with the organization of the elastic fibers present in the tissues. This in‐vitro study on 6 patients (three normal and three pathologic), suggests that such a spectroscopic marker, specific to aneurismal tissue characterization, could be important information for surgeons who face the dilemma of moderate aortic tissue dilatation of the ascending aortas. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Staining properties of aldehyde fuchsin analogs.

This investigation was designed to clarify the role of the aldehyde component of aldehyde fuchsin in its staining reactions. Several aldehyde fuchsin analogs were prepared by using different aldehydes. The staining quality of these analogs and pararosaniline-HCl was compared with that of aldehyde fuchsin prepared with paraldehyde in the usual way. The major findings of this investigation include: 1) Aldehyde fuchsin staining of nonoxidized pancreatic B cells requires a stain prepared with either paraldehyde or acetaldehyde. 2) An aldehyde moiety is required for aldehyde fuchsin staining of strong tissue anions. 3) Staining of elastic tissue with aldehyde fuchsin analogs resembles staining of strong tissue anions more than staining of nonoxidized pancreatic B cells. Possible reaction mechanisms of aldehyde fuchsin with tissue substrates are discussed.     

Synthetic Orcein as an Elastic Tissue Stain

A study was made of various synthetic orceins in an effort to determine the optimal conditions for their use in staining elastic tissue. A simple technic has been developed, based on a modification of the method originally worked out by Taenzer. Orcein is used as a 0.4% solution in 70% alcohol containing 1% HC1. Sections are counterstained with Mallory's borax methylene blue. The solutions are easily prepared and may be used for several months. Although several methods require staining in orcein from 2 to 24 hours, the present method requires staining for only 30 minutes. After several types of fixation some of the dye samples stained collagenous tissue to varying degrees, but this could be diminished by slightly reducing the strength of the staining solution. Differential staining of elastic tissue was particularly specific in tissues fixed in acetone, collagen in these preparations remaining practically unstained by any of the dye samples.     

Fluorescence microscopical visualization of elastic fibres using basic fuchsin

Summary We show that fluorescence microscopy after staining of tissue sections with basic fuchsin (BF) can be used successfully for the demonstration of elastic fibres. Using double staining with BF and antibodies reacting with microfibrils of elastic fibres (anti-SAP) we showed that BF reacts with the elastin core of elastic fibres and the elastin poor terminal branches of the subepidermal elastic fibre system. Small amounts of bound BF were easily seen by fluorescence microscopy (FL) but not by ordinary light microscopy. Both frozen sections and sections of paraffin embedded tissues could be stained. The BF-FL staining procedure is simple to perform and, due to its selectivity, it may be useful for detecting elastic fibres in various tissues at the light microscopical level.     

Fluorescence microscopical visualization of elastic fibres using basic fuchsin

We show that fluorescence microscopy after staining of tissue sections with basic fuchsin (BF) can be used successfully for the demonstration of elastic fibres. Using double staining with BF and antibodies reacting with microfibrils of elastic fibres (anti-SAP) we showed that BF reacts with the elastin core of elastic fibres and the elastin poor terminal branches of the subepidermal elastic fibre system. Small amounts of bound BF were easily seen by fluorescence microscopy (FL) but not by ordinary light microscopy. Both frozen sections and sections of paraffin embedded tissues could be stained. The BF-FL staining procedure is simple to perform and, due to its selectivity, it may be useful for detecting elastic fibres in various tissues at the light microscopical level.     

In Vivo Staining by Dis and Trisazo Dyes, Especially of Bone and Elastic Tissue

The localization and retention of dis and trisazo dyes in connective tissues and bone was studied in rats and rabbits. Chlorazol fast pink, 5% in 0.9% NaCl. was injected intraperitoneally, 25 mg/kg each day for 2 days in newborn, growing, mature and 17-18 day pregnant rats, and up to 5 days in young rabbits. The dye was also injected at different time intervals during the development of strontium-induced rickets in growing rats, and in animals with abscess walls following subcutaneous injection of 0.1 ml turpentine. Animals were killed at-intervals thereafter, and comparison of in vivo staining of 5% solutions of chlorazol fast pink, chlorantine fast red, chlorazol black E, chlorazol sky blue, chlorazol sky pink, chlorazol green, chlorazol violet, pontamine green and pontamine sky blue was made by intraperitoneal injection in rats. Soft and hard tissue specimens were embedded in polyester resin or in paraffin wax and sectioned at 5-7 μ. Chlorazol fast pink stained some connective tissues and growing bones. The main intensity of staining occurred within 24 hr and gradually decreased but was still detectable after 6 mo in elastic tissues. In thin plastic sections, colouration was brilliant, not in osteoid tissue, but at calcifying bone margins and in elastic fibres. Dye localized at calcifying bone margins was incorporated within calcified tissues and then subsequently lost through remodelling. Such staining was not seen in paraffin-embedded material. Dye uptake was greatly reduced in rachitic rats, and wide osteoid seams were coloured faint pink, but where calcification was still occurring, colouration was brilliant. Similarly collagenous tissue in abscess walls was only lightly stained, in contrast to brilliant colouration of elastic tissues and macrophages. Of the 9 dyes tested, only chlorazol fast pink and chlorazol sky blue stained bone and elastic tissue in vivo. This prolonged retention and staining by these 2 dyes, unlike the others, was associated with their presence in the proximal convoluted tubules of the kidney.     

Aliskiren单用及联用氟伐他汀对动脉粥样硬化斑块稳定性的影响

目的:观察和比较肾素抑制剂aliskiren单用或与氟伐他汀(fluvastatin)联用对动脉粥样硬化斑块稳定性的影响。方法:选择4周龄雄性ApoE-/-小鼠通过喂以高脂饮食8周建立动脉粥样硬化模型,将其随机分为5组:模型对照组、aliskiren组、肼屈嗪组、氟伐他汀组、aliskiren与氟伐他汀联合用药组,所有组别均治疗12周。取主动脉根部组织评估斑块面积(HE染色)、斑块内新生血管数量(CD31染色)及斑块稳定性指标(胶原蛋白染色、弹力纤维染色、Mac-3染色、MCP-1染色)。结果:与模型对照组比较,aliskiren单用显著降低动脉粥样硬化斑块面积,减少斑块内新生血管数量以及巨噬细胞浸润、炎症因子表达,增加斑块内弹力纤维及胶原蛋白含量(P0.05或P0.01)。与aliskiren单用组比较,aliskiren与氟伐他汀联用进一步降低斑块面积,改善斑块的稳定性(P0.05或P0.01)。与aliskiren组比较,肼屈嗪组降压幅度相似(P0.05)。与模型对照组比较,肼屈嗪没有明显抑制斑块进展以及改善斑块的稳定性(P0.05)。结论:Aliskiren能够抑制动脉粥样硬化斑块的进展,减少斑块内新生血管形成,改善斑块的稳定性,而其与氟伐他汀联用的治疗效果更佳。     

Genetic disorders of the elastic fiber system.

Over the last decade, a considerable amount of new information has emerged describing the protein components of elastic fibers. It is now evident that elastic fibers are complex extracellular matrix polymers, composed of at least 19 different proteins that comprise both the microfibrillar and the amorphous components of elastic fibers. Mutations in three of the genes encoding the most abundant of these elastic fiber proteins result in a broad spectrum of elastic tissue phenotypes, ranging from skeletal and skin abnormalities to vascular and ocular defects. The following disorders will be discussed in this review: supravalvular aortic stenosis; Williams-Beuren syndrome; cutis laxa; Marfan syndrome; ectopia lentis; familial thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections; MASS syndrome; isolated skeletal features of Marfan syndrome; Shprintzen-Goldberg syndrome; and congenital contractural arachnodactyly.     

Analysis of the bending behaviour of porcine xenograft leaflets and of neutral aortic valve material: bending stiffness, neutral axis and shear measurements

Flexibility of the materials used in the construction of bioprosthetic heart valves is essential for proper valve operation. We therefore examined the bending behaviour of glutaraldehyde treated porcine aortic valve cusps in comparison with fresh aortic valve tissue. We repeatedly bent a total of 35 strips of fresh and treated tissue to curvatures ranging from 0.2 to 2.2 mm-1. We compared the stiffness of the two materials between circumferential and radial bending, natural and reverse curvatures and constant or variable tensile stress (0.8-40 kPa). Our results showed a weak positive relationship between bending stiffness and applied tensile stress and a strong positive dependance of stiffness on tissue thickness (t). For the fresh tissue, the bending stiffness increased in proportion to t1.14 while for the glutaraldehyde treated tissue it increased with t2.18. Fourteen strips of fresh and treated tissue were also histologically processed, sectioned and examined with polarized light microscopy. Collagen fiber wavelengths and shear deformations were measured utilizing the tissue banding patterns produced by polarized light microscopy. The neutral axis of bending was found to lie very close to the outer surface of the tissue, suggesting that aortic leaflets have a very low compressive elastic modulus. The shear strains measured in fresh tissue were 10 +/- 2.7% vs 3 +/- 4.4% for the treated, indicating a stiffening of the tissue following glutaraldehyde fixation. We conclude that both natural and bioprosthetic valve cusps have a complex flexural behaviour that cannot be modeled using simple bending principles, although the bioprosthetic material more closely approximates the simple beam than does the fresh. The non-linear elastic modulus, high compressibility and shearing between fiber layers are likely responsible for the observed behaviour of the fresh tissue, while the cross-linking and dehydrating effects of glutaraldehyde are believed to be responsible for the alteration in bending properties observed in the treated tissue. Our study suggests that bioprosthetic valve material does not adequately mimic the mechanics of the natural valve tissue, and that the current glutaraldehyde fixation process eliminates many of the beneficial, stress-reducing properties of the aortic leaflet.     

Semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase in annulo-aortic ectasia disease: relation to elastic lamellae-associated proteins.

Lysyl oxidases (Lox), which are members of the amine oxidase family, are involved in the maturation of elastic lamellae and collagen fibers. Modifications of amine oxidases in idiopathic annulo-aortic ectasia disease (IAAED) have never been investigated. Our aim was to examine the expression of several proteins that might interfere with elastic fiber organization in control (n=10) and IAAED (n=18) aortic tissues obtained at surgery. Expression of amine oxidases and semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO), and cellular phenotypic markers were examined by immunohistopathology and confocal microscopy. The expression of these proteins was assessed in relation to clinical and histomorphological features of the arterial wall. In control aorta, SSAO staining was expressed along elastic lamellae, whereas in aneurysmal areas of IAAED, SSAO was markedly decreased, in association with severe disorganization of elastic lamellae. Smooth muscle myosin heavy chain was also decreased in IAAED compared with controls, indicating smooth muscle cell dedifferentiation. Multiple regression analysis showed that elastic lamellar thickness (ELT) was correlated positively with the SSAO:elastin ratio and negatively with the Lox:elastin ratio, and that the clinical features of IAAED (aneurysm, thoracic aorta diameter, and aortic insufficiency) were positively correlated with ELT but not with SSAO. The relationship between SSAO expression and ELT suggests that this amine oxidase may be involved in elastic fiber organization. However, in advanced IAAED, the deficit in SSAO expression could be secondary to the decrease and fragmentation of elastic fibers and/or to vascular smooth muscle cell dedifferentiation.     

Structural modeling reveals microstructure-strength relationship for human ascending thoracic aorta

High lethality of aortic dissection necessitates accurate predictive metrics for dissection risk assessment. The not infrequent incidence of dissection at aortic diameters <5.5 cm, the current threshold guideline for surgical intervention (Nishimura et al., 2014), indicates an unmet need for improved evidence-based risk stratification metrics. Meeting this need requires a fundamental understanding of the structural mechanisms responsible for dissection evolution within the vessel wall. We present a structural model of the repeating lamellar structure of the aortic media comprised of elastic lamellae and collagen fiber networks, the primary load-bearing components of the vessel wall. This model was used to assess the role of these structural features in determining in-plane tissue strength, which governs dissection initiation from an intimal tear. Ascending aortic tissue specimens from three clinically-relevant patient populations were considered: non-aneurysmal aorta from patients with morphologically normal tricuspid aortic valve (CTRL), aneurysmal aorta from patients with tricuspid aortic valve (TAV), and aneurysmal aorta from patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). Multiphoton imaging derived collagen fiber organization for each patient cohort was explicitly incorporated in our model. Model parameters were calibrated using experimentally-measured uniaxial tensile strength data in the circumferential direction for each cohort, while the model was validated by contrasting simulated tissue strength against experimentally-measured strength in the longitudinal direction. Orientation distribution, controlling the fraction of loaded collagen fibers at a given stretch, was identified as a key feature governing anisotropic tissue strength for all patient cohorts.     

A selective histochemical method for the quantitative estimation of elastic fibers by computerized morphometric analysis. Effect of colchicin treatment

A morphometric technique is reported that uses a new selective staining of the elastic system fibers in skin biopsy specimens to facilitate the quantitative evaluation of the volume fraction occupied by these elastic fibers in the tissue. The study of elastic fibers in the dermis of 30 patients, before and after six months of treatment with Colchicin, was carried out with a Quantimet 720 system. Preelastic (oxytalan and elaunin) fibers and mature elastic fibers were quantitated separately. Compared to the average volume fraction (surface occupied by the elastic fibers) before treatment with Colchicin (1.449 +/- 0.64%), the mean values after treatment were significantly increased (2.076 +/- 0.61%). The same results were found for the preelastic fibers: 0.807 +/- 0.51% before treatment and 1.025 +/- 0.54% after treatment. These results demonstrate the advantages of our monochromatic staining method for automatic quantitation of elastic fibers as well as the possibilities of the quantitative study of the elastic fibers in human dermis. This methodology should be applicable to other inherited or acquired diseases affecting skin elastic fibers as well as to other tissues containing elastic fibers.