Focal Adhesion Kinase Promotes the Progression of Aortic Aneurysm by Modulating Macrophage Behavior

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening vascular disease that is associated with persistent inflammation and extracellular matrix degradation. The molecular mechanisms underlying the macrophage-mediated progression of AAA remain largely unclear.

We show that focal adhesion kinase (FAK) expression and activity are enhanced in macrophages that are recruited to AAA tissue. FAK potentiates tumor necrosis factor-α-induced secretion of matrix-degrading enzymes and chemokines by cultured macrophages. FAK also promotes macrophage chemotaxis. In mice, the administration of a FAK inhibitor that tempers local macrophage accumulation markedly suppresses the development and progression of chemically induced AAA.

FAK plays a key role in macrophage behavior, which underlies the chronic progression of AAA. These findings provide insights into AAA progression and identify FAK as a novel therapeutic target.