Aortic aneurysm and dissection: complement and precision medicine in aortic disease

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Aortic diseases like aneurysm and dissection are major causes of mortality.
• The complement system, crucial for immunity, is increasingly linked to non-immune diseases.
• Complement dysregulation is implicated in the pathophysiology of aortic disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current understanding of the complement system's role in aortic disease.
• To evaluate complement as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for aortic conditions.
• To highlight the potential for personalized medicine approaches in treating aortic disease.

Main Methods:

• Review of human and experimental studies on complement activation in aortic disease.
• Analysis of the mechanisms by which complement pathways contribute to disease.
• Examination of emerging complement-based pharmacotherapies and biomarkers.

Main Results:

• All three complement pathways are involved in aortic disease pathogenesis.
• Complement contributes to cellular and matrix damage via the membrane attack complex and MMPs.
• Anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a promote inflammation and immune cell recruitment.

Conclusions:

• The complement system represents a promising target for novel diagnostics and personalized treatments in aortic disease.
• Further standardized preclinical studies and validation of biomarkers in diverse cohorts are needed.
• Complement-based therapies hold potential for precision medicine in managing aortic conditions.