Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 10, 2025
Isolation and Analysis of Aortic Arch and Root Lesions in an Atherosclerotic Mouse Model
Published on: February 14, 2025
Analysis of MCM Proteins' Role as a Potential Target of Statins in Patients with Acute Type A Aortic Dissection
Zheyong Liang1, Yongjian Zhang1, Qiang Chen1
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China.
Abstract:
Acute aortic dissection is one of the most severe vascular diseases. The molecular mechanisms of aortic expansion and dissection are unclear. Clinical studies have found that statins play a protective role in aortic dissection development and therapy; however, the mechanism of statins' effects on the aorta is unknown. The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset GSE52093, GSE2450and GSE8686 were analyzed, and genes expressed differentially between aortic dissection samples and normal samples were determined using the Networkanalyst and iDEP tools. Weight gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA), functional annotation, pathway enrichment analysis, and the analysis of the regional variations of genomic features were then performed. We found that the minichromosome maintenance proteins (MCMs), a family of proteins targeted by statins, were upregulated in dissected aortic wall tissues and play a central role in cell-cycle and mitosis regulation in aortic dissection patients. Our results indicate a potential molecular target and mechanism for statins' effects in patients with acute type A aortic dissection.
Insights
Statins may protect against aortic dissection by targeting minichromosome maintenance proteins (MCMs). These proteins, crucial for cell division, are upregulated in dissected aortic tissues, revealing a potential therapeutic mechanism for acute type A aortic dissection.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Biology
- Molecular Medicine
- Genomics
Background:
- Acute aortic dissection is a life-threatening vascular condition with unclear molecular underpinnings.
- Clinical evidence suggests statins offer protection against aortic dissection, but their mechanism remains elusive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the molecular mechanisms of aortic dissection.
- To elucidate the role of statins in aortic dissection pathogenesis and identify potential therapeutic targets.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets (GSE52093, GSE2450, GSE8686) to identify differentially expressed genes.
- Utilized NetworkAnalyst and iDEP tools for gene expression analysis.
- Performed Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analysis (WGCNA), functional annotation, and pathway enrichment analysis.
Main Results:
- Minichromosome maintenance proteins (MCMs), a statin-targeted family, were significantly upregulated in aortic dissection tissues.
- MCMs play a central role in cell-cycle regulation and mitosis in the context of aortic dissection.
- Identified a potential link between MCMs, statins, and aortic dissection pathology.
Conclusions:
- Minichromosome maintenance proteins (MCMs) represent a potential molecular target for statin therapy in acute aortic dissection.
- Understanding MCMs' role in cell-cycle regulation offers insights into aortic dissection mechanisms.
- This study provides a molecular basis for statins' protective effects in acute type A aortic dissection.
More Related Videos
08:51Author Spotlight: Integrated Multi-Omics Analysis for Unveiling Multicellular Immune Signatures in Clinical Heart Attack Cohorts
Published on: September 20, 2024
09:06Quantitative Analysis of Cellular Composition in Advanced Atherosclerotic Lesions of Smooth Muscle Cell Lineage-Tracing Mice
Published on: February 20, 2019
