Insights into ascending aortic aneurysm: Interactions between biomechanical properties of the aortic wall and tissue biomarkers

Svetlana I Sazonova; Viktor V Saushkin; Dmitriy S Panfilov; Ivan V Stepanov; Anna M Gusakova; Anatoliy B Skosyrsky; Alexander V Vrublevsky; Ayas O Uvanchikov; Boris N Kozlov

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23538

Insights into ascending aortic aneurysm: Interactions between biomechanical properties of the aortic wall and tissue biomarkers

Heliyon. 2023 Dec 10;10(1):e23538. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23538. eCollection 2024 Jan 15.

Authors

Svetlana I Sazonova¹, Viktor V Saushkin¹, Dmitriy S Panfilov¹, Ivan V Stepanov¹, Anna M Gusakova¹, Anatoliy B Skosyrsky², Alexander V Vrublevsky¹, Ayas O Uvanchikov¹, Boris N Kozlov¹

Affiliations

¹ Cardiology Research Institute, Branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution «Tomsk National Research Medical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences» (Cardiology Research Institute, Tomsk NRMC), 634012, Kievskaya 111 a, Tomsk, Russian Federation.
² National Research Tomsk State University (TSU), Tomsk, Russian Federatio, 634050, Lenin Ave. 36, Tomsk, Russian Federation.

Abstract

Background: It remains difficult to understand the association between the local mechanical properties of ascending thoracic aorta aneurysm (asTAA), its tissue, and its cellular and molecular changes. The purpose of our study was to investigate the relationship between biomechanical properties, histopathological findings, and tissue biomarkers of asTAA.

Methods: Intraoperative asTAA samples from 30 patients were studied. All samples were examined histologically and underwent a tensile test. We determined the tensile strength (σ_в, MPa), the strain (ε, mm/mm˟%), and the area under the strength-strain curve (S) along with the concentrations of tissue matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1 et al.) and their inhibitors, their interleukins (IL) -6 -10, and their tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -α.

Results: It was found that 43.3 % of asTAA patients had atherosclerosis, 3.3 % had aortitis, and 53.3 % of patients had connective tissue dysplasia. Differences in the studied parameters between these subgroups were not found. Age correlated with ε (r = -0.49) and S (r = -0.54). ε was also associated with media fibrosis degree (r = -0.5), collagen/elastin ratio (r = -0.61), and IL-10 (r = 0.52). IL-10 correlated with collagen/elastin ratio (r = -0.58), TNF-α (r = 0.77), and MMP-1 (r = 0.71).

Conclusion: Tissue IL-10 has a protective effect on the elastic structures of the aortic wall and is positively associated with the activity of MMP-1 and pro-inflammatory cytokines. IL-6 is associated with media fibrosis degree, and negatively affects strength-strain parameters of asTAA samples.

Keywords: Ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm; Cytokines; Interleukins; Mechanical strength; Metalloproteinases; Strain.