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Shear Stress Metrics and Their Relation to Atherosclerosis: An In Vivo Follow-up Study in Atherosclerotic Mice

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Abstract

It is generally accepted that low and oscillatory wall shear stress favors the initiation and development of atherosclerosis. However, a quantitative analysis of the association between shear stress metrics at baseline and lesion prevalence at a later stage is challenging to perform in vivo on a within-subject basis. In this study, we assessed carotid hemodynamics and derived hemodynamic wall parameters from subject-specific fluid–structure interaction simulations in the left and right carotid arteries of 4 ApoE−/− mice prior to disease development. We then applied a point-by-point quantitative association (surrogate sample data analysis) between various established and more recent shear related parameters and the extent of macrophage infiltration at a later stage. We conclude that, for the atherosclerotic murine carotid bifurcation, (i) there is an association between hemodynamics and macrophage infiltration; (ii) this correlation is most apparent when assessed at the level of the entire carotid bifurcation; (iii) the strongest spatial correlation between hemodynamics and atherosclerosis development was found for the time averaged wall shear stress (negative correlation) and the relative residence time (positive correlation); (iv) aggregating the data leads to an overestimation of the correlation.

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Acknowledgments

David De Wilde is supported by a research grant of the Flemish government agency for Innovation by Science and Technology (IWT). Bram Trachet receives support from a BOF grand of Ghent University. We thank Francisco Londono, Mathias Peirlinck, Christian Vanhove, Benedicte Descamps, Scharon Bruneel, Bert Vandeghinste, Nic Debusschere, Abigail Swillens, Joris Degroote, Jan Vierendeels, Francesco Iannaccone, Liesbeth Taelman, Joris Bols and Carole Van der Donckt for their assistance.

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No conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IBiTech-bioMMeda, iMinds Medical IT, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    David De Wilde, Bram Trachet & Patrick Segers

  2. Institute for Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Bram Trachet

  3. Division of Physiopharmacology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

    Guido R. Y. De Meyer

  4. bioMMeda, De Pintelaan185-blokB5, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    David De Wilde

Authors
  1. David De Wilde
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  2. Bram Trachet
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  3. Guido R. Y. De Meyer
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  4. Patrick Segers
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Correspondence to David De Wilde.

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Associate Editor Andreas Anayiotos oversaw the review of this article.

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De Wilde, D., Trachet, B., De Meyer, G.R.Y. et al. Shear Stress Metrics and Their Relation to Atherosclerosis: An In Vivo Follow-up Study in Atherosclerotic Mice. Ann Biomed Eng 44, 2327–2338 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-015-1540-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-015-1540-z

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