Browsing by Author "Orton, E. Christopher, advisor"
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Item Open Access Connecting structural changes to cell transformation patterns in the canine degenerative mitral valve(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2015) Abbott, Kaitlin Marie, author; Orton, E. Christopher, advisor; Frye, Melinda, committee member; Schenkel, Alan, committee memberDegenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD) is a significant problem in the canine population and also affects humans. Recent studies have provided insight into molecular and cellular mechanisms that likely contribute to disease progression. Better understanding of the cellular processes that mediate the degenerative process could lead to treatments that prevent or slow this degeneration benefiting both canine and human patients. Structural changes to degenerative valves such as nodules, leaflet thickening, increased opacity, loss of elasticity and loss of valve architecture have been well documented. Abnormal cell transformation patterns such as the transformation of valvular interstitial cells to activated myofibroblasts have been characterized in degenerative mitral valve tissue, as well as other irregular cell behavior such as the overproduction of glycosaminoglycan and matrix remodeling factors that have become hallmarks of the disease. Despite these important discoveries, much remains unknown about cell signaling in degenerative mitral valve disease and how cell activity changes a normal valve to the diseased phenotype. An overarching hypothesis of this study is that investigating signaling mechanisms active in degenerative valves could provide insight into cellular processes mediating the disease. A specific hypothesis that emerged from initial results is that endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT), a process important in valvulogenesis, could be active in degenerative mitral valves. The first goal of this study was to compare protein abundance in degenerative and normal mitral valves to determine if there exists previously unidentified signaling molecules that could be initiating or perpetuating the cellular transformations and abnormalities present in DMVD. The second goal was to investigate these proteins using immunohistochemistry to characterize their activity in the tissue matrix and show evidence of their contribution to structural changes of the valve. The first goal was accomplished by doing a targeted microarray analysis of signaling proteins comparing their relative abundance in normal and degenerative mitral valves. This analysis yielded an increased abundance of signaling proteins that have been associated with EndMT. The second goal was accomplished by immunohistochemistry to determine the spatial distribution of selected proteins from the microarray analysis with markers of endothelial cells and mesenchymal cells (activated myofibroblasts). Targeted microarray analysis of signaling proteins revealed increased abundance of 18 proteins including the growth factor HB-EGF, its partner molecule ADAM17, and the cell adhesion molecule integrin β3, all possible mediators of EndMT (Chapter 4). Immunohistochemistry studies demonstrated the presence of cells positive for the endothelial marker CD31 within the valve interstitum. These CD31 positive cells co-localized with areas of myofibroblast transformation in degenerative valves identified by positive staining for α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA). Expression of signaling proteins including HB-EGF and ADAM17 also co-localized to these areas (Chapter 5). In conclusion, these results support active EndMT in canine degenerative mitral valves. EndMT could be contributing to the formation of high cellular density myofibroblast transformation which has been postulated to mediate mitral valve degeneration.Item Open Access Immunoproteomic identification of bovine pericardium xenoantigens(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2008) Griffiths, Leigh G., author; Orton, E. Christopher, advisor; Reardon, Kenneth F., advisorBovine pericardium (BP) is an important biomaterial used in the production of gluteraldehyde-fixed heart valves and tissue engineering applications. The ability to perform proteomic analysis on BP is potentially useful for several reasons including investigation of immune rejection after implantation. The importance of humoral and cell mediated rejection responses towards such xenogeneic tissues are becoming increasingly apparent. I have applied a novel immunoproteomic approach to survey the antigenic determinants of BP. Proteomic analysis of fibrous tissues like BP is challenging due to their relative low cellularity and abundance of extracellular matrix. A variety of methods for tissue homogenization, protein extraction, and fractionation were investigated with the aim of producing high quality 2-DE gels for both water- and lipid-soluble BP proteins. MALDI-TOF/TOF MS protein identifications were performed to confirm bovine origin and appropriate subcellular fractionation of resolved proteins. Sixteen unique predominantly cytoplasmic bovine proteins were identified from the water-soluble gels. Twenty-two unique predominantly membrane bovine proteins were identified from the lipid-soluble gels. These results demonstrate that the final 2-DE protocol produced high quality proteomic data from BP for both cytoplasmic and membrane proteins. Duplicate 2-DE gels were used to generate western blots from both water- and lipid-soluble gels. Western blots were probed with pre- and post-exposure anti-BP rabbit serum, with detection of immune complexes limited to the IgG subtype. Western blots were compared to duplicate 2-DE gels and spots matched using Delta 2D image analysis software. Protein identifications of matched spots were performed using either MALDI-TOF/TOF MS or ESI MS/MS. This approach identified 31 putative antigens, capable of stimulating an IgG humoral rejection response. To the best of my knowledge, this study was the first to apply an immunoproteomic approach for identification of antigenic targets in xenotransplanted tissues. The results provide important information for understanding and possibly mitigating the immune response to fixed and unfixed BP xenografts.Item Open Access Tissue engineering of heart valves: antigen removal from xenogeneic tissue scaffolds(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2009) Arai, Shiori, author; Orton, E. Christopher, advisorTissue-engineered heart valves hold the promise of an ideal heart valve substitute by using appropriate and functional cells and scaffolds. An ideal heart valve should be durable, non-immunogenic, non-thrombogenic, resistant to infection and capable of regeneration and growth. Xenogeneic tissues are potential candidates for scaffolding of tissue-engineered heart valves. Anionic detergent-based decellularization has been employed to eliminate xenogeneic tissue immunogenicity. The present studies were performed to develop a technique to detect antigenic proteins in xenogeneic tissue scaffolds, to evaluate the efficacy of antigen removal of current detergent-based decellularization of xenogeneic tissues, to develop novel techniques to enhance antigen removal, and to address issues related to the cytotoxic effects of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS).Item Open Access Valve interstitial cell phenotypes and signaling pathways involved with canine myxomatous degenerative mitral valve disease(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2008) Disatian, Sirilak, author; Orton, E. Christopher, advisorMyxomatous mitral valve disease is a common heart disease of dogs that is similar to myxomatous mitral valve disease in humans. The first hypothesis of this dissertation is that interstitial cell phenotype transformation described in human myxomatous valves also occurs in dogs with myxomatous mitral valves and correlates with disease severity. Normal and early-, intermediate-, and late-stage myxomatous canine mitral valves were examined by immunohistochemistry for cytoskeletal (vimentin, desmin, smooth muscle α-actin, smooth muscle myosin, and non-muscle myosin), collagenolytic (MMP-1, MMP-13), cell surface (CD-31, CD-45, CD-68) and proliferation (Ki-67) proteins. Normal canine mitral valve interstitial cells were positive for vimentin, but negative for α-actin, desmin, and non-muscle myosin (i.e. fibroblast phenotype). Interstitial cells from myxomatous valves showed increased positive staining for α-actin and desmin, but were negative for smooth muscle myosin (i.e. myofibroblast phenotype). Positive cells first appeared as clusters in the subendocardial region of the lamina atrialis and extended into deeper layers with increasing severity. Interstitial cells from myxomatous valves showed positive staining for non-muscle myosin (i.e. activated mesenchymal cell phenotype). Positive staining cells increased with disease severity and were dispersed throughout the valve layers. Expression of MMP-1 and MMP-13 correlated with disease severity. Interstitial cellularity increased in degenerative valves however Ki-67 staining was mildly increased. In conclusion, two patterns of interstitial cell phenotype transformation were identified in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease and both correlated with disease severity.