Project description:Vein graft failure (VGF) following cardiovascular bypass surgery results in significant patient morbidity and cost to the healthcare system. Vein graft injury can occur during autogenous vein harvest and preparation, as well as after implantation into the arterial system, leading to the development of intimal hyperplasia, vein graft stenosis, and, ultimately, bypass graft failure. While previous studies have identified maladaptive pathways that occur shortly after implantation, the specific signaling pathways that occur during vein graft preparation are not well defined and may result in a cumulative impact on VGF. We, therefore, aimed to elucidate the response of the vein conduit wall during harvest and following implantation, probing the key maladaptive pathways driving graft failure with the overarching goal of identifying therapeutic targets for biologic intervention to minimize these natural responses to surgical vein graft injury. Employing a novel approach to investigating vascular pathologies, we harnessed both single-nuclei RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptomics (ST) analyses to profile the genomic effects of vein grafts after harvest and distension, then compared these findings to vein grafts obtained 24 hours after carotid-cartoid vein bypass implantation in a canine model (n=4). Collectively, we find that vein conduit harvest and distension elicit a prompt genomic response facilitated by distinct cellular subpopulations heterogeneously distributed throughout the vein wall. This response was found to be further exacerbated following vein graft implantation, resulting in a cascade of maladaptive gene regulatory networks. Together, these results suggest that distension initiates the upregulation of pathological pathways that may ultimately contribute to bypass graft failure and presents potential early targets warranting investigation for targeted therapies.
Project description:Vein graft failure (VGF) following cardiovascular bypass surgery results in significant patient morbidity and cost to the healthcare system. Vein graft injury can occur during autogenous vein harvest and preparation, as well as after implantation into the arterial system, leading to the development of intimal hyperplasia, vein graft stenosis, and, ultimately, bypass graft failure. While previous studies have identified maladaptive pathways that occur shortly after implantation, the specific signaling pathways that occur during vein graft preparation are not well defined and may result in a cumulative impact on VGF. We, therefore, aimed to elucidate the response of the vein conduit wall during harvest and following implantation, probing the key maladaptive pathways driving graft failure with the overarching goal of identifying therapeutic targets for biologic intervention to minimize these natural responses to surgical vein graft injury. Employing a novel approach to investigating vascular pathologies, we harnessed both single-nuclei RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptomics (ST) analyses to profile the genomic effects of vein grafts after harvest and distension, then compared these findings to vein grafts obtained 24 hours after carotid-cartoid vein bypass implantation in a canine model (n=4). Collectively, we find that vein conduit harvest and distension elicit a prompt genomic response facilitated by distinct cellular subpopulations heterogeneously distributed throughout the vein wall. This response was found to be further exacerbated following vein graft implantation, resulting in a cascade of maladaptive gene regulatory networks. Together, these results suggest that distension initiates the upregulation of pathological pathways that may ultimately contribute to bypass graft failure and presents potential early targets warranting investigation for targeted therapies.
Project description:RNA-seq of mouse sciatic peripheral nerve of injured mouse with implant: control (untreated) vs local delivery of MCC950 (NLRP3inh) vs standard FBR treatment dexamethasone (Dex). .
Project description:To further development of our gene expression approach to cardiovascular disease, we have employed microarray expression profiling as a discovery platform to identify genes with the potential to distinguish the therapeutic target of the vein graft restenosis following coronary artery bypass grafting. Vein graft samples were obtained from model rats which received external jugular vein-carotid bypass grafting at different postoperative timepoints (n=3/group; day 7, 14 and 28, respectively). Vein samples were also obtained from control rats without vascular grafting (n=3/group; day 0). Time-dependent gene expression profiles were described with microarray analysis. Expression of three lncRNA-mRNA pairs (AF062402-Src, BC091437-Edg1 and BC166461- Mcam) from this signature were quantified in the same RNA samples by real-time PCR, confirming the accuracy of the microarray data.
Project description:Occlusive artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. Bypass graft surgery remains the prevalently performed treatments for occlusive arterial disease, and veins are the most frequently used conduits for surgical revascularization. However, clinical efficacy is highly affected by the long-term potency rates of vein grafts, and no optimal treatments are available for prevention of vein graft restenosis (VGR) until today. Therefore, it is urgent to improve the understanding of molecular mechanisms involved in mediating VGR, and thereby provide potential potent therapeutic targets for prevention of vein graft failure. In this study, we aim to explore potential crucial genes and pathways associated with VGR and provide valid biological information for further investigation of VGR.