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Review
. 2019 Feb 15;124(4):607-618.
doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.118.313187.

Cellular Mechanisms of Aortic Aneurysm Formation

Raymundo Alain Quintana  1 , W Robert Taylor  1   2   3
Affiliations
Review

Cellular Mechanisms of Aortic Aneurysm Formation

Raymundo Alain Quintana et al. Circ Res. .

Abstract

Aortic aneurysms are a common vascular disease in Western populations that can involve virtually any portion of the aorta. Abdominal aortic aneurysms are much more common than thoracic aortic aneurysms and combined they account for >25 000 deaths in the United States annually. Although thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms share some common characteristics, including the gross anatomic appearance, alterations in extracellular matrix, and loss of smooth muscle cells, they are distinct diseases. In recent years, advances in genetic analysis, robust molecular tools, and increased availability of animal models have greatly enhanced our knowledge of the pathophysiology of aortic aneurysms. This review examines the various proposed cellular mechanisms responsible for aortic aneurysm formation and identifies opportunities for future studies.

Keywords: aneurysm; animals; aorta; models, animal; pathophysiology.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

None
Diagrammatic representation of the most critical components of the cellular mechanisms of thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysm formation
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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