A chemo-mechano-biological formulation for the effects of biochemical alterations on arterial mechanics: the role of molecular transport and multiscale tissue remodelling. Issue 136 (8th November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Marino, Michele; Pontrelli, Giuseppe; Vairo, Giuseppe; Wriggers, Peter
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Royal Society interface. Volume 14:Issue 136(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-11-08
• Subjects: arterial multiphysics -- multiscale constitutive modelling -- microscale transport mechanisms -- tissue remodelling -- vascular pathologies; Physical sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; Life sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; Interdisciplinary research -- Periodicals; 570.5
• DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2017.0615
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-5689

Abstract

Abstract : This paper presents a chemo-mechano-biological framework for arterial physiopathology. The model accounts for the fine remodelling in the multiscale hierarchical arrangement of tissue constituents and for the diffusion of molecular species involved in cell–cell signalling pathways. Effects in terms of alterations in arterial compliance are obtained. A simple instructive example is introduced. Although oversimplified with respect to realistic case studies, the proposed application mimics the biochemical activity of matrix metalloproteinases, transforming growth factors beta and interleukins on tissue remodelling. Effects of macrophage infiltration, of intimal thickening and of a healing phase are investigated, highlighting the corresponding influence on arterial compliance. The obtained results show that the present approach is able to capture changes in arterial mechanics as a consequence of the alterations in tissue biochemical environment and cellular activity, as well as to incorporate the protective role of both autoimmune responses and pharmacological treatments.