Artery Research

Volume 1, Issue 1, June 2007, Pages 26 - 31

Molecular determinants of arterial stiffness

Authors
Stéphane Laurenta, *, Céline Fassota, Patrick Lacolleyb, Pierre Boutouyriea
aDepartment of Pharmacology and Inserm U652, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris-Descartes, 20, rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France
bInserm U684, Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France
*Corresponding author. Tel.: +33 1 56 09 39 91; fax: +33 1 56 09 39 92. E-mail address: stephane.laurent@egp.ap-hop-paris.fr (S. Laurent).
Corresponding Author
Stéphane Laurent
Received 28 February 2007, Accepted 22 March 2007, Available Online 6 June 2007.
DOI
10.1016/j.artres.2007.03.004How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Hypertension; Monogenic disease; Extra-cellular matrix; Biomechanics; Gene profile
Abstract

Arterial stiffness has an independent predictive value for cardiovascular events. This review proposes an integrated view of the molecular determinants of arterial stiffness, based on a candidate gene approach, an analysis of the structure–function relationship in hypertension, and studies on gene expression profile in humans. In monogenic diseases of connective tissue (Marfan, Williams, and Ehlers–Danlos syndromes) and corresponding animal models, the precise characterization of arterial phenotype allows understanding the influence of abnormal, genetically determined, wall components on arterial stiffness. These studies underline the role of extra-cellular matrix signaling in the vascular wall and the fact that elastin and collagen have not only passive elastic or rigid properties, but also are implicated in the control of SMC function. In animal models of essential hypertension (SHR and SHR-SP), the structural modifications of the arterial wall include a higher number of elastin/SMC connections, and smaller fenestrations of the internal elastic lamina, which could redistribute the mechanical load towards elastic materials. Thus, the changes in arterial wall material which accompany wall hypertrophy in these animals are not associated with an increased stiffness. Taken together, these data afford strong arguments to consider that arterial stiffness is not only influenced by the amount and density of stiff wall material, but mainly by its spatial organization.

Copyright
© 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Association for Research into Arterial Structure and Physiology.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license.

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Journal
Artery Research
Volume-Issue
1 - 1
Pages
26 - 31
Publication Date
2007/06/06
ISSN (Online)
1876-4401
ISSN (Print)
1872-9312
DOI
10.1016/j.artres.2007.03.004How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Association for Research into Arterial Structure and Physiology.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license.

Cite this article

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Stéphane Laurent
AU  - Céline Fassot
AU  - Patrick Lacolley
AU  - Pierre Boutouyrie
PY  - 2007
DA  - 2007/06/06
TI  - Molecular determinants of arterial stiffness
JO  - Artery Research
SP  - 26
EP  - 31
VL  - 1
IS  - 1
SN  - 1876-4401
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artres.2007.03.004
DO  - 10.1016/j.artres.2007.03.004
ID  - Laurent2007
ER  -