Tumor necrosis factor-α converting enzyme is a key mediator of abdominal aortic aneurysm development

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α is known to be elevated in plasma and the aorta in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients. We sought to clarify the role of TNF-α converting enzyme (Tace), which cleaves the transmembrane precursor of TNF-α, in AAA development.

We obtained aortic sample of AAA during surgical operation to assess the histological features and protein expression of human AAA. AAA was induced in mice with temporal systemic deletion of Tace by the inducible Mx-1 Cre transgene (TaceMx1) and in wild-type littermates (CON) by periaortic application of CaCl(2) (AAA/TaceMx1, AAA/CON).

Tace expression was increased in human AAA samples as compared with normal aorta. Six weeks postoperatively, aortic diameter in AAA/TaceMx1 was decreased than in AAA/CON in association with attenuated TNF-α expression and extracellular matrix disruption. Increased activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and MMP-2, numbers of Mac-2-positive macrophages, CD3-positive T lymphocytes and CD31-positive vessels in periaortic tissues, mRNA expression of CD68, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, TNF-α, vascular endothelial growth factor-A, p47 and glutathione peroxidases, and protein expression of phospho-c-Jun N-terminal kinase in AAA were all attenuated by Tace deletion. Protein expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 was upregulated by Tace deletion in sham-operated mice. TGF-β1 expression was further increased in AAA/TaceMx1.

Tace was overexpressed in the aortic wall in human and experimental AAA. Temporal systemic deletion of Tace prevented AAA development in association with attenuating inflammation, oxidative stress, neoangiogenesis and extracellular matrix disruption, suggesting a crucial role of Tace in AAA development.