Increased expression of tenascin-x in thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysm tissues.

Tenascin-X (TNX), which has a molecular mass of roughly 450 kDa, is the largest member of the tenascin family. Complete deficiency of TNX in humans leads to a recessive form of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). TNX is expressed abundantly in a variety of tissues, especially in cardiac muscle and in perivascular stroma.