Quantitative Determination of Hyaluronan Content in Cerebral Aneurysms by Digital Densitometry

Abstract

Object: Hyaluronan (HA) is a highly hydrated macromolecule; it is one of the essential components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the arteries and plays an important role in maintaining the biomechanical features of blood vessels. Although the potential contribution of HA in aneurysms of different vessels has been studied intensively, no data are available about the alteration of the HA content in the extracellular matrix of intracranial aneurysms. The aim of the study was to determine the hyaluronan content in the wall of human cerebral arteries. Methods: A biotinylated aggrecan fragment that binds specifically to HA was used to stain samples from cerebral aneurysms (n = 11) to compare the HA content to non-aneurysmal arteries of patients who had intracranial aneurysm (n = 11), and to histologically normal arteries of patients who had expired from non-vascular diseases (n = 14). Digital microscopic densitometry was used for the quantitative analysis of the hyaluronan content in these samples. Results: The highest level (169.5 ± 7.9) was detected in aneurysms, while the HA-level of non-aneurysmal vessels was lower (130.2 ± 16.8). Both vessel groups contained significantly higher HA than the normal cerebral arteries (32.9 ± 2.1). Conclusions: Results suggest that an elevated hyaluronan level in the extracellular matrix may affect the cerebral arterial wall architecture. It is reasonable to suppose that the increased hyaluronan content creates a viscoelastic ECM which might improve the biomechanical resistance of the thinned vessel wall.

Zusammenfassung

Hyaluronan (HA) ist ein Makromolekül, das eine der essenziellen Komponenten der extrazellulären Matrix (ECM) der Arterien darstellt, und es spielt eine wichtige Rolle in der Aufrechterhaltung der biomechanischen Eigenschaften von Blutgefäßen. Obwohl der mögliche Beitrag von HA bei Aneurysmen verschiedener Blutgefäße intensiv untersucht wurde, existieren keine Daten über die Veränderung des HA-Gehaltes in der extrazellulären Matrix intrakranieller Aneurysmen. Das Ziel dieser Untersuchung ist es, den Hyaluronangehalt der Wand menschlicher zerebraler Arterien zu untersuchen. Methoden: Ein biotiniliertes Aggrecan-Fragment, das sich spezifisch an HA bindet, wurde benutzt, um Proben zerebraler Aneurysmen (n = 11) zu färben, mit dem Ziel, den HA-Gehalt zu vergleichen mit jenen von nicht-aneurysmatischen Arterien von Patienten, die intrakranielle Aneurysmenträger waren (n = 11). Außerdem wurde ein Vergleich angestellt zu histologisch normalen Arterien von Patienten, die aufgrund nicht-vaskulärer Erkrankungen verstarben (n = 14). Für die quantitative Analyse des Hyaluronangehaltes in diesen Proben wurde die digitale mikroskopische Densitometrie angewendet. Ergebnisse: Das höchste Gehalt (169,5 ± 7,9) wurde in Aneurysmen festgestellt, während der HA-Gehalt von nicht-aneurysmatischen Gefäßen niedriger war (130,2 ± 16,8). Beide Gruppen von Blutgefäßen enthielten deutlich höhere HA-Mengen als normale zerebrale Arterien (32,9 ± 2,1). Schlussfolgerung: Die Ergebnisse legen die Hypothese nahe, dass ein erhöhter Hyaluronangehalt in der extrazellulären Matrix die Architektur der zerebralen Arterienwand beeinflusst. Es erscheint vernünftig, anzunehmen, dass der erhöhte Hyaluronangehalt eine viskoelastische extrazelluläre Matrix schafft, die den biomechanischen Widerstand der ausgedünnten Gefäßwand verbessert.

Key words

extracellular matrix - hyaluronan - cerebral aneurysm - digital densitometry

Schlüsselwörter

extrazelluläre Matrix - Hyaluronan - zerebrales Aneurysma - digitale Densitometrie

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