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Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Murine Model of Thoracic Aortic Dissection Induced by Oral β-Aminopropionitrile and Subcutaneous Angiotensin II Infusion
Published on: May 16, 2025
ATAD3A Limits Aortic Dissection via Mito-Lysosome Contacts and Lipoylation
Jie Lin1,2, Shengjun Xiong1,2, Ying An1,2
1Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, China (J.L., S.X., Y.A., L.W., Y.D., Y.E.L., Y.W., Z.D., J.G., Y.Z., J.R.).
The mitochondrial protein ATAD3A protects against aortic aneurysm and dissection (AAD) by regulating mitochondrial calcium and cuproptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells. Targeting this ATAD3A-DLST-cuproptosis pathway may offer new therapies for AAD.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Biology
- Mitochondrial Biology
- Molecular Medicine
Background:
- Aortic aneurysm and dissection (AAD) is a life-threatening condition with limited treatment options.
- The mitochondrial protein ATAD3A (ATPase family AAA domain-containing protein 3A) is involved in mitochondrial signaling but its role in AAD is unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of ATAD3A in the mechanisms underlying AAD.
- To explore the therapeutic potential of targeting the ATAD3A pathway for AAD treatment.
Main Methods:
- AAD was induced in mouse models using β-aminopropionitrile or AngII infusion.
- ATAD3A expression, VSMC function, mitochondrial bioenergetics, and organelle contacts were analyzed.
- The interaction between ATAD3A and DLST, and the effects of pharmacological inhibitors were assessed.
Main Results:
- ATAD3A expression was elevated in human and mouse AAD samples.
- Overexpression of ATAD3A protected against AAD, while knockdown accelerated it.
- ATAD3A regulated mitochondrial calcium influx, suppressed the lipoylation pathway, and reduced cuproptosis, preserving VSMC viability.
Conclusions:
- ATAD3A protects against AAD by modulating mitochondrial calcium, NADPH flux, and DLST lipoylation-dependent cuproptosis in VSMCs.
- The ATAD3A-DLST-cuproptosis axis presents a novel therapeutic target for AAD.
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