Presenter Information

Elham ZamaniFollow

Advisor Information

Majid Jadidi

Location

MBSC Dodge Room 302A - G

Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Start Date

4-3-2022 9:00 AM

End Date

4-3-2022 10:15 AM

Abstract

Breaks in Longitudinal Elastic Fibers of Human Femoropopliteal Arteries

Elham Zamani1, Majid Jadidi1

1 Department of Biomechanics, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE

Introduction: Elastin is a major protein in the body with half-life >50 years. It is thought that elastic fibers are formed before the postnatal period. In the femoropopliteal artery (FPA), the main artery in the leg, longitudinal elastic fibers are present in External Elastic Lamina (EEL). Our team has studied more than 1000 cadaveric human FPA and has noticed that there are big breaks in their longitudinal elastic fibers in some subjects. Our goal in this work was to look into these breaks in more detail. Methods: From a sub-sample of 27 human FPAs from (41±18 years) we obtained histology images of longitudinal strips stained with Verhoeff-Van Gieson (VVG), Masson’s Trichrome (MTC), α-smooth muscle cell actin ( α-SMA), and Movat’s Pentachrome. First, we determined whether the sample has big breaks or not. If the breaks were present, then we assessed the organization of collagen fibers and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in these breaks. Results. On >50% of samples, we observed at least one big break in longitudinal elastic fibers. In some samples, thin wavy elastic fibers connect the breaks. However, this is not the case in all the samples. Near the breaks, we observed a change in SMCs orientation and phenotype. Discussions: The thin elastic fibers might signify that the body is producing new elastin to fill the gap in longitudinal elastic fibers. However, we need to investigate other proteins associated with elastogenesis to determine whether these thin fibers are new elastic fibers or not.

COinS
 
Mar 4th, 9:00 AM Mar 4th, 10:15 AM

Breaks in Longitudinal Elastic Fibers of Human Femoropopliteal Arteries

MBSC Dodge Room 302A - G

Breaks in Longitudinal Elastic Fibers of Human Femoropopliteal Arteries

Elham Zamani1, Majid Jadidi1

1 Department of Biomechanics, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE

Introduction: Elastin is a major protein in the body with half-life >50 years. It is thought that elastic fibers are formed before the postnatal period. In the femoropopliteal artery (FPA), the main artery in the leg, longitudinal elastic fibers are present in External Elastic Lamina (EEL). Our team has studied more than 1000 cadaveric human FPA and has noticed that there are big breaks in their longitudinal elastic fibers in some subjects. Our goal in this work was to look into these breaks in more detail. Methods: From a sub-sample of 27 human FPAs from (41±18 years) we obtained histology images of longitudinal strips stained with Verhoeff-Van Gieson (VVG), Masson’s Trichrome (MTC), α-smooth muscle cell actin ( α-SMA), and Movat’s Pentachrome. First, we determined whether the sample has big breaks or not. If the breaks were present, then we assessed the organization of collagen fibers and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in these breaks. Results. On >50% of samples, we observed at least one big break in longitudinal elastic fibers. In some samples, thin wavy elastic fibers connect the breaks. However, this is not the case in all the samples. Near the breaks, we observed a change in SMCs orientation and phenotype. Discussions: The thin elastic fibers might signify that the body is producing new elastin to fill the gap in longitudinal elastic fibers. However, we need to investigate other proteins associated with elastogenesis to determine whether these thin fibers are new elastic fibers or not.