Tracking Cardiovascular Comorbidity in Models of Chronic Inflammatory Disease

Abstract

Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are commonly associated with complex co-existing conditions, and cardiovascular comorbidities are a common cause of mortality in systemic inflammation. Experimental models of disease provide an opportunity to dissect inflammatory mechanisms that promote damage to vascular tissues affected by comorbidity. Here, we describe methods to recover the thoracic aorta from mice during experimental inflammatory arthritis and assess vascular constriction responses by isometric tension myography. To support assessment of functional changes in the vasculature during inflammatory arthritis, we also outline a method to characterize vascular inflammation by immunohistochemistry.