Novel Insights into the Aortic Mechanical Properties of Mice Modeling Hereditary Aortic Diseases.

OBJECTIVE

Hereditary aortic diseases (hADs) increase the risk of aortic dissections and ruptures. Recently, we have established an objective approach to measure the rupture force of the murine aorta, thereby explaining the outcomes of clinical studies and assessing the added value of approved drugs in vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS). Here, we applied our approach to six additional mouse hAD models.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We used two mouse models ( and ) of Marfan syndrome (MFS) as well as one smooth-muscle-cell-specific knockout (SMKO) of and three CRISPR/Cas9-engineered knock-in models (, , and ). One of the two MFS models was subjected to 4-week-long losartan treatment. Per mouse, three rings of the thoracic aorta were prepared, mounted on a tissue puller, and uniaxially stretched until rupture.

RESULTS

The aortic rupture force of the SMKO and both MFS models was significantly lower compared with wild-type mice but in both MFS models higher than in mice modeling vEDS. In contrast, the , , and knock-in models presented no impaired aortic integrity. As expected, losartan treatment reduced aneurysm formation but surprisingly had no impact on the aortic rupture force of our MFS mice.

CONCLUSION

Our read-out system can characterize the aortic biomechanical integrity of mice modeling not only vEDS but also related hADs, allowing the aortic-rupture-force-focused comparison of mouse models. Furthermore, aneurysm progression alone may not be a sufficient read-out for aortic rupture, as antihypertensive drugs reducing aortic dilatation might not strengthen the weakened aortic wall. Our results may enable identification of improved medical therapies of hADs.