Cystatin C Deficiency Promotes Inflammation in Angiotensin II–Induced Abdominal Aortic Aneurisms in Atherosclerotic Mice

Novel findings: Expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 in thoracic aortic dissection and aneurysm

“…Such an increase of Ang II level was shown to promote aneurysm and dissection formation in apolipoproteins E-deficient (ApoE-/-) mice. 9,10 However, recent studies have also demonstrated that Ang II may also activate the angiotensin II receptor 2 (ATR2), resulting in vasodilation, anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory actions, antagonizing the ATR1-mediated effects. [11][12][13] In the present study, we observed a significant reduction of plasma ACE concentrations and its mRNA level in aortic tissues from TAD patients compared with those in TAA patients.…”

Cysteine Protease Cathepsins in Atherosclerosis-Based Vascular Disease and Its Complications

“…68 Mice deficient for cystatin C developed increased lumen diameter and AAA lesion size in response to angiotensin II. 69 These mice also showed enhanced inflammatory cell accumulation, more severe elastin break, and fewer SMCs in the tunica media than the control mice (Table). Recently, Sun et al 70,71 have demonstrated that cathepsin L or K reduces elastase perfusion-induced AAAs in ApoE Ϫ/Ϫ mice.…”

Angiotensin II-induced TLR4 mediated abdominal aortic aneurysm in apolipoprotein E knockout mice is dependent on STAT3

“…[22] 2.9 Scoring of elastin breaks and aortic wall thickness Elastin integrity was graded after VVG staining as described pevioulsy. [23] Wall thickness was measured on cross sections from aorta through all three layers of the aortic wall: intima, media, and adventitia. [24] 2.10 Isolation of RNA and quantitative RT-PCR RNA was isolated using an RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen) according to the manufacturer's instructions.…”