title: For Application to Human Spaceflight and ISS Experiments: VESGEN Mapping of Microvascular Network Remodeling during Intestinal Inflammation.
abstract: Challenges to long-duration space exploration and colonization in microgravity and cosmic radiation environments by humans include poorly understood risks for gastrointestinal function and cancer. Nonetheless, constant remodeling of the intestinal microvasculature is critical for tissue viability, healthy wound healing, and successful prevention or recovery from vascular-mediated inflammatory or ischemic diseases such as cancer. Currently no automated image analysis programs provide quantitative assessments of the complex structure of the mucosal vascular system that are necessary for tracking disease development and tissue recovery. Increasing abnormalities to the microvascular network geometry were therefore mapped with VESsel GENeration Analysis (VESGEN) software from 3D tissue reconstructions of developing intestinal inflammation in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) mouse model. By several VESGEN parameters and a novel vascular network linking analysis, inflammation strongly disrupted the regular, lattice-like geometry that defines the normal microvascular network, correlating positively with the increased recruitment of dendritic cells during mucosal defense responses.
authors.affiliation: Research & Technology Directorate, John H. Glenn Research Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, OH 44135.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parsons-Wingerter
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Center for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, GRJ R708, Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114.
authors.forename: Hans-Christian
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Reinecker
keywords: Avascular Space; Crohn’s Disease (CD); Dendritic Cell; Gastrointestinal (GI); Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD); Ulcerative Colitis; VESsel GENeration Analysis; Vascular Connectivity; Vascular Lattice; Vascular Network