JHLT Open · Published 2026-07-17 · DOI 10.1016/j.jhlto.2026.100625
Hao Dun, Maura Sticco-Ivins, Gianni Bonnici, Sariah Hyacinth, Samantha L. Nelson, Dana Arenz, Jordan RH Hoffman, Benjamin J. Kopecky
Background: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a major cause of late graft failure after heart transplantation, but its spatial distribution across the donor vasculature and underlying disease progression remain incompletely defined. Analysis of human explanted hearts with end-stage CAV demonstrates involvement of both donor coronary arteries and the donor aorta, suggesting broader vascular involvement than is typically assessed. Methods: To enable investigation of vascular distribution and continuity of CAV-like pathology, we developed a modified heterotopic mouse heart transplant model incorporating an extended segment of donor aorta, including the ascending aorta, aortic arch, and descending aorta. Results: Compared to the classical model, the extended aorta approach provides substantially increased vascular tissue for analysis while maintaining reproducible surgical outcomes with minimal additional operative time. Using this model, we observe continuous neointimal changes spanning the donor coronary arteries and aortic segments within a single graft. This configuration enables spatially resolved assessment of vascular pathology and overcomes limitations of coronary artery accessibility in murine systems. Conclusion: We describe a reproducible modification of the mouse heart transplant model that expands accessible vascular tissue and enables analysis of vascular continuity within the graft. This approach provides a methodological platform for studying the distribution and progression of CAV-like vascular changes, with potential to support future mechanistic investigations.
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Dun, H., Sticco-Ivins, M., Bonnici, G., et al. (2026). A modified mouse heart transplant model with extended aorta enables analysis of vascular continuity in cardiac allograft vasculopathy. JHLT Open. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhlto.2026.100625