title: Mechanical function of intermediate filaments in arteries of different size examined using desmin deficient mice.
abstract: Protein composition and mechanical function of intermediate filaments were examined in arteries of different sizes using desmin deficient mice (Des-/-) and their wild-type controls (Des+/+). Using SDS-PAGE gels and Western blots we found a gradient in desmin expression in the arterial tree; the desmin content increased from the elastic artery aorta, via the muscular mesenteric artery to the resistance-sized mesenteric microarteries approximately 150 microm in diameter in Des+/+ mice. Mechanical experiments were performed on the aorta, the mesenteric artery and resistance-sized arteries using wire myographs. For aorta and mesenteric artery, no differences in passive or active circumference- stress relations were found between Des-/- and Des+/+ mice. In microarteries, both passive and active stress were lower in the Des-/- group. In conclusion, large elastic and muscular arteries contain a relatively low amount of desmin, and the desmin intermediate filaments do not seem to play a major role in the mechanical properties of these larger arterial vessels. In the microarteries, where expression of desmin is high, desmin plays a role in supporting both passive and active tension.
authors: Department of Physiological Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors: Oskar Karlsson
authors: OK
authors: Wede
authors: Mia
authors: M
authors: Löfgren
authors: Zhenlin
authors: Z
authors: Li
authors: Denise
authors: D
authors: Paulin
authors: Anders
authors: A
authors: Arner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology; D003893:Desmin / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D007382:Intermediate Filaments / Q000502:physiology*; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D009929:Organ Size; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D003893:Desmin