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Proteolysis of the abdominal aortic aneurysm wall and the association with rupture
E Petersen1, F Wågberg, K A Angquist
1Department of Surgery, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden.
Purpose:
to investigate proteolysis of the abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) wall and the association with rupture.
Methods:
levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2) were measured in the walls of medium-sized (5-7 cm in diameter) ruptured AAA (rAAA) (n =30) and large (> or = 7 cm in diameter) asymptomatic AAA (aAAA) (n=30).
Results:
MMP-2 levels (median, range) were significantly higher in the walls of large aAAA (165 ng/g AAA tissue, 50-840) than from medium-sized rAAA (110 ng/g AAA tissue, 47-547, p=0.007). MMP-9 levels were significantly higher in the walls of medium-sized rAAA (107 ng/g AAA tissue, 19-582) than from large aAAA (55 ng/g AAA tissue, 11-278, p=0.012). TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 levels were equivalent. There was a positive correlation between MMP-2 and the diameter of aAAA (r=0.54, p=0.002), but a negative correlation with MMP-9 (r= -0.44, p=0.017). No significant correlations were found between aAAA diameter and TIMP-1 or TIMP-2.
Conclusion:
AAA rupture is associated with higher levels of MMP-9. There is no association with TIMP-1 or TIMP-2 levels. MMP-2 levels are positively, whereas MMP-9 levels are negatively, correlated with aAAA size. MMP-9 may play a role in the progression towards rupture, whereas MMP-2 may play a role in expansion.
Insights
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture is linked to increased matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels. While MMP-2 correlates with AAA expansion, MMP-9 may drive progression toward rupture.
Area of Science:
- Vascular biology and pathology
- Biochemistry of extracellular matrix degradation
Background:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are life-threatening vascular diseases.
- Proteolysis of the AAA wall is implicated in aneurysm expansion and rupture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate proteolysis in the abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) wall.
- To determine the association between specific proteases and AAA rupture.
Main Methods:
- Quantified matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2, MMP-9) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1, TIMP-2) in AAA tissue.
- Compared enzyme levels between ruptured AAA (rAAA) and asymptomatic AAA (aAAA) based on diameter.
Main Results:
- MMP-9 levels were significantly higher in medium-sized rAAA compared to large asymptomatic AAA.
- MMP-2 levels were significantly higher in large asymptomatic AAA compared to medium-sized rAAA.
- MMP-2 correlated positively with AAA diameter, while MMP-9 correlated negatively.
Conclusions:
- AAA rupture is associated with elevated MMP-9 levels.
- MMP-9 may contribute to AAA rupture progression, whereas MMP-2 may be involved in aneurysm expansion.
- TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 levels showed no association with AAA rupture or size.