Figure 5
From: Modeling lamellar disruption within the aortic wall using a particle-based approach
Feedback loop caused by apoptosis of two localized collections of cells separated by an intact intra-lamellar space but with elastic lamellar disruption. (a) Two groups of cells with identical angular extents (2°, 4°, 8°, and 20°, referred to as pool size 1–4) are assumed to lose contractility, reduce in stiffness, and be replaced with GAGs (steps I, II, and III; red arrows). Following cell apoptosis/loss of intra-lamellar matrix and replacement with GAG (steps I-III), the (b) interior elastic lamella experiences a higher rise in stress compared with the (c) exterior elastic lamella, especially at higher pressure. Following disruption of the interior elastic lamellae (step IV, lamellar rupture), the stress in the interior intra-lamellar space (d) increases more drastically compared with the exterior intra-lamellar space (e), suggesting a high vulnerability of SMCs in the region surrounded by apoptotic pools of cells and GAGs to damage. Baseline levels of stress are again shown by horizontal dashed grey lines.
