title: Altered microvascular hemodynamics during the induction and perpetuation of chronic gut inflammation.
abstract: Adoptive transfer of naïve CD4+ T cells into lymphopenic mice induces chronic small and large bowel inflammation similar to Crohn's disease. Although much is now known regarding the immunopathology in this model of inflammatory bowel disease, virtually nothing is known about the microvascular hemodynamic changes during the induction and perpetuation of chronic gut inflammation. In this study, CD4+CD45RBhigh T cells obtained from healthy C57BL/6 donor mice were transferred into lymphopenic recombinase-activating gene-1-deficient (RAG knockout) mice, which induced small and large bowel inflammation. At various time points following reconstitution (3 days-9 wk), intravital microscopy was used to examine the microvessels in the submucosa of the ileum and proximal colon following infusion of fluorescently labeled platelets and injection of rhodamine 6G (to label leukocytes). Hemodynamic measurements and the extent of blood cell adhesion to the venular wall were compared with measurements in unreconstituted RAG knockout controls. In <1 wk following reconstitution, velocity and wall shear rate of the arterioles decreased by >50% compared with controls, with this decrease also observed at 4-5 and 7-9 wk postreconstitution. At 7-9 wk, arteriolar diameters were found to be approximately 15% larger than in controls, but, despite this dilation, flow rates in the individual vessels were decreased by approximately 30%. Venular platelet and leukocyte adherence were not significantly elevated above controls; however, an association was found between platelet adherence and venular shear rate. In summary, significant decreases in arteriolar velocity and shear rates are observed in this model of chronic gut inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA 71130, USA. nharr6@lsuhsc.edu
authors.forename: Norman R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Whatley
authors.forename: Patsy R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Georgia A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Matthew B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Grisham
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001160:Arterioles / Q000503:physiopathology; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D016654:Genes, RAG-1 / Q000235:genetics; D006439:Hemodynamics; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007422:Intestines / Q000098:blood supply*; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D055806:Microvessels / Q000502:physiology*; D010973:Platelet Adhesiveness; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000502:physiology; D014699:Venules / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens