The vasa vasorum in diseased and nondiseased arteries

Abstract

The vasa vasorum form a network of microvasculature that originate primarily in the adventitial layer of large arteries. These vessels supply oxygen and nutrients to the outer layers of the arterial wall. The expansion of the vasa vasorum to the second order is associated with neovascularization related to progression of atherosclerosis. Immunohistological analysis of human plaques from autopsied aortas have defined plaque progression and show a significant correlation with vasa vasorum neovascularization. Recent technological advances in microcomputed tomography have enabled investigation of vasa vasorum structure and function in nondiseased large arteries from pigs and dogs. Smaller mammals, particularly mice with genetic modifications that enable disease development, have been used extensively to study the vasa vasorum in diseased vessels. Despite the fact that most mouse models that are used to study atherosclerosis are unable to develop plaque to the extent found in humans, studies in both humans and mice underscore the importance of angiogenic vasa vasorum in progression of atherosclerosis. Those who have examined the vasa vasorum in occluded vessels of nondiseased pigs and dogs find that inhibition of the vasa vasorum makes the animals atheroprone. Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disease. There is increasing evidence that factors, produced in response to changes in the arterial wall, collaborate with the vasa vasorum to enhance the disease process.

Mechanisms of Leukocyte Recruitment Into the Aorta During Atherosclerosis

“…Interestingly, the inhibition of plaque neovascularisation reduces M accumulation and the progression of advanced atherosclerosis (Moreno et al, 2006). Recent studies have also revealed that the vasa vasorum can penetrate the media, enter atheroma, and come close to the arterial lumen (Moreno et al, 2006;Ritman & Lerman, 2007;Mulligan-Kehoe, 2010). Furthermore, administration of growth factors in acid gelatine hydrogel microspheres around the periaortic area in 10-11 week old male Apoe -/-mice strongly promoted vasa vasorum neovascularisation of the aorta and corresponded with larger atherosclerotic plaques (Tanaka et al, 2011).…”

Developing cross-correlation as a method for microvessel imaging using clinical intravascular optical coherence tomography systems

“…Illustrate that the effects of rotational artifact on CC maps, 2. Define the threshold values for the key parameters -SD and Mean, required for flow extraction, 3. Investigate the working range of these threshold parameters.…”

“…Neo-vessels within the coronary vessel wall arise from the vasa vasorum and proliferate during plaque growth. Animal models have shown that microvessels are critical to the pathophysiology of plaque progression and vulnerability [3].…”

Linking the Pathobiology of Hypercholesterolemia with the Neutrophil Mechanotransduction

“…Alternatively, activated neutrophils may disrupt vascular (i.e., adventitial or medial) wall perfusion in the vasa vasorum (or microcirculation) of large vessels (e.g., aorta) leading to vessel tissue injury followed by atherogenesis (from within the vessel wall to the luminal surface) [25][26][27]. In these ways, neutrophils may initiate or exacerbate atherosclerosis at different stages via their capability to release vast amounts of ROS and proteins stored in their cytosolic granules [28].…”