Background-Complement system, an innate immunity, has been well documented to play a critical role in many inflammatory diseases. However, the role of complement in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm, which is considered an immune and inflammatory disease, remains obscure. Methods and Results-Here, we evaluated the pathogenic roles of complement membrane attack complex and CD59, a key regulator that inhibits the membrane attack complex, in the development of abdominal aortic aneurysm. We demonstrated that in the angiotensin II-induced abdominal aortic aneurysm model, deficiency of the membrane attack complex regulator CD59 in ApoE-null mice (mCd59ab Ϫ/Ϫ /ApoE Ϫ/Ϫ ) accelerated the disease development, whereas transgenic overexpression of human CD59 (hCD59 ICAM-2ϩ/Ϫ /ApoE Ϫ/Ϫ ) in this model attenuated the progression of abdominal aortic aneurysm. The severity of aneurysm among these 3 groups positively correlates with C9 deposition, and/or the activities of MMP2 and MMP9, and/or the levels of phosphorylated c-Jun, c-Fos, IKK-␣/, and p65. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the membrane attack complex directly induced gene expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 in vitro, which required activation of the activator protein-1 and nuclear factor-B signaling pathways. A bdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is characterized by chronic aortic wall inflammation and destructive connective tissue remodeling, including depletion of aortic elastin and fragmentation of medial elastic fibers. AAA is a leading cause of sudden death in aging (Ͼ55 years) men. 1 Rupture of AAA accounts for 4% of all deaths in people Ͼ65 years of age. Risk factors for AAA include age, male gender, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and genetic predisposition, although atherosclerosis is considered to be a main cause of AAA. 2 Enzymatic degradation of elastic lamellae and extracellular matrix proteins are underlying characteristics of AAA. 3 It is well established that abnormally increased protease activity in aortic tissue plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of aortic dissection and aneurysm. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) such as MMP2 and MMP9 are the predominant proteinases in AAA wall. 2 In animal models, the development of aneurysms can be suppressed by pharmacological inhibition (ie, by tetracycline derivatives) of MMP2 and MMP9 or by genetic alterations that eliminate the expression of either proteinase. 4 Elastolytic cysteine proteases, including cathepsins, also play a critical role in the development of aneurysm. 5 AAA is also considered an immune and inflammatory disease, and macrophages, lymphocytes, and mast cells participate in its development. 1 However, the role of complement, a main effector of immunity and inflammation, remains unclear.
Conclusion-Together
Clinical Perspective on p 1346The complement system consists of Ϸ30 soluble and membrane-bound proteins and is activated by different sequential activation cascades (the classic, alternative, and lectin pathways) either on the pathogens or in plasma. These pat...