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Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Porcine Model of Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Published on: November 21, 2019
Whole genome-expression profiling reveals a role for immune and inflammatory response in abdominal aortic aneurysm
E Choke1, G W Cockerill, K Laing
1St George's Vascular Institute, St George's Hospital, Blackshaw Road, Tooting, London SW17 0RE, UK.
Objectives:
This study used the whole transcriptome approach to investigate the role of genes involved in immune and inflammatory response at the site of aneurysm rupture.
Materials And Methods:
Rupture site and paired anterior sac biopsies (internal control) of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) (n=10) were analysed with Affymetrix Human Genome U133A plus 2.0 microarray. Twenty-one differentially expressed genes were selected for validation using quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR).
Results:
A total of 139 genes (123 upregulated, 16 downregulated) at the aneurysm rupture site were differentially expressed (>2.5-fold, P<0.005). Immune and inflammatory responses (Gene Ontology Classification) were frequently associated with the differentially expressed genes. Genes with immune and inflammatory functions that were confirmed, by QRT-PCR, to be overexpressed at the aneurysm rupture site were interleukins-6 and -8 (IL-6 and -8), Selectin E (SELE), prostaglandin-endoperoxidase synthase 2 (COX2) and prokineticin 2 (PROK2). IL-6 (pro-immune) and IL-8 (pro-immune and pro-inflammatory) have previously been linked to aneurysm rupture; and SELE and COX2 (pro-inflammatory) have previous associations with aneurysm development but not rupture.
Conclusions:
The differential expression of genes involved in immune and inflammatory responses was confirmed at AAA rupture site. These genes may represent novel targets for treatment of aneurysms.
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