Homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in fibulin-4 (<i>FBLN4</i>) lead to autosomal recessive cutis laxa type 1B (ARCL1B), a multisystem disorder characterized by significant cardiovascular abnormalities, including abnormal elastin assembly, arterial tortuosity, and aortic aneurysms.
We used a mouse model of postnatal ascending aortic aneurysms ( Fbln4<sup>SMKO</sup>; termed SMKO [SMC-specific knockout]), in which deletion of Fbln4 (fibulin-4) leads to disruption of the elastin-contractile units caused by a loss of elastic lamina-SMC connections.
Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS, OMIM # 609192) caused by heterozygous mutations in TGFBR1 and TGFBR2 has recently been described as an important cause of familial aortic aneurysms.
The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) pathway regulates vascular remodeling and mutations in its receptor genes, TGFBR1 and TGFBR2, cause syndromes with thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA).
High serum thrombospondin-1 concentration is associated with slower abdominal aortic aneurysm growth and deficiency of thrombospondin-1 promotes angiotensin II induced aortic aneurysm in mice.
The objectives of this study were to identify interrelations between matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2)/MMP9 levels and clinical variables in patients with aortic root/ascending aortic aneurysms and to describe comorbidities as possible biasing factors in the widely discussed correlation of serum MMP levels and aortic diameter.
Expression of GFP was localized to macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques and in angiotensin II-induced aortic aneurysms and correlated with galectin 3 and mCD68 expression.
In particular, the infusion of angiotensin II (Ang II) in the apolipoprotein E-deficient mice (apoE-/-) and low density lipoprotein receptor knockout mice (LDLR-/-) to induce aortic aneurysm has been extensively used in the field.
Expression levels of ADAMTS‑7 and matrix metalloproteinase‑9 were significantly increased in the AA group, as detected by immunohistochemistry (P<0.05).
XBP1u, but not XBP1s, was markedly repressed in the aorta during the early onset of aortic aneurysm in both angiotensin II-infused apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE<sup>-/-</sup>) and CaPO<sub>4</sub> (calcium phosphate)-induced C57BL/6J murine models, in parallel with a decrease in smooth muscle cell contractile apparatus proteins.
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), especially MMP-9, is implicated in the development of aortic aneurysm, but the effective MMP inhibitors are far from development.
Parenteral administration of enoxaparin (FXa/IIa inhibitor) and fondaparinux (FXa inhibitor) over 14 days reduced to severity of aortic aneurysm and atherosclerosis in AngII-infused ApoE<sup>-/-</sup> mice.
More importantly, adipocyte-specific PDGF-D transgenic mice are more susceptible to AA formation after AngII infusion accompanied by exaggerated adventitial inflammatory and fibrotic responses.
Moreover, MMP9 levels were significantly higher in TAA group than those in AAA group in the total comparison, and this discrepancy was also found in the non-diabetes, non-hyperlipidemia and aortic diameter ≥ 5.5 cm subgroup analysis.
Furthermore, the combination of local periaortic leptin and systemic angiotensin II administration augmented medial MMP-9 synthesis and aortic aneurysm size.