Phosphorylation of AKT and abdominal aortic aneurysm formation.

It is hypothesized that differential AKT phosphorylation between sexes is important in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) formation. Male C57BL/6 mice undergoing elastase treatment showed a typical AAA phenotype (80% over baseline, P < 0.001) and significantly increased phosphorylated AKT-308 (p308) and total-AKT (T-AKT) at day 14 compared with female mice.

Deletion of cysteine-cysteine receptor 7 promotes fibrotic injury in experimental post-thrombotic vein wall remodeling.

Objective: Deep vein thrombosis (VT) can result in vein wall injury, which clinically manifests as post-thrombotic syndrome. Postinjury fibrosis may be modulated in part through cellular cysteine-cysteine receptor 7 (CCR7)-mediated events. We tested the hypothesis that late vein wall fibrotic remodeling is dependent on CCR7.

Increased estrogen receptor alpha in experimental aortic aneurysms in females compared with males.

Background: Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) has been identified in the vessel wall, offering vasoprotective effects when upregulated. Estrogens are known to mediate the inflammatory milieu, and inflammation has long been associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) formation. Therefore, it is theorized that increased estrogen receptor in females contributes to their relative resistance to AAAs.

The role of extracellular signal-related kinase during abdominal aortic aneurysm formation.

Background: It is hypothesized that activation of extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) is critical in activating matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) during abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) formation.

Study Design: C57BL/6 male mice underwent either elastase or heat-inactivated elastase aortic perfusion (n = 9 per group). Mouse aortic smooth muscle cells were transfected with ERK-1 and 2 siRNA along with or without elastase treatment.

Differential gender- and species-specific formation of aneurysms using a novel method of inducing abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Background: The objective of this study was to test a novel model of inducing abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) in different mouse strains and genders.

Materials And Methods: Male and female C57BL/6 and B6129 mice (n = 5 per group) underwent periaortic dissection and porcine pancreatic elastase (30 μL) or inactivated elastase application (5 min) to the aorta. Aortic measurements were taken on days 0 and 14.

Increased JNK in males compared with females in a rodent model of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Background: In humans, there is a 4:1 male:female ratio in the incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) is an important upstream regulator of several enzymes involved in AAA formation, including the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a gender difference between males and females in JNK during AAA formation.

Increased PAI-1 in females compared with males is protective for abdominal aortic aneurysm formation in a rodent model.

The serine proteases, along with their inhibitor plasmin activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), have been shown to play a role in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) formation. The aim of this study is to determine if PAI-1 may be a protective factor for AAA formation and partially responsible for the gender difference observed in AAAs. Male and female wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 and PAI-1(-/-) mice 8-12 wk of age underwent aortic perfusion with porcine pancreatic elastase.