- Endothelial MMP-9 drives the inflammatory response in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).
Endothelial MMP-9 drives the inflammatory response in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).
American journal of translational research (2018-01-10)
Martina Ramella, Francesca Boccafoschi, Kevin Bellofatto, Antonia Follenzi Md, Luca Fusaro, Renzo Boldorini, Francesco Casella, Carla Porta, Piergiorgio Settembrini, Mario Cannas
PMID29312500
ABSTRACT
Progression of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is typified by chronic inflammation and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation of the aortic wall. Vascular inflammation involves complex interactions among inflammatory cells, endothelial cells (ECs), vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs), and ECM. Although vascular endothelium and medial neoangiogenesis play a key role in AAA, the molecular mechanisms underlying their involvement are only partially understood. In AAA biopsies, we found increased MMP-9, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), which correlated with massive medial neo-angiogenesis (C4d positive staining). In this study, we developed an