Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) comprise the 10th leading cause of death in Caucasian males 65-74 years of age and accounted for nearly 16,000 deaths overall in the year 2000. Understanding the pathophysiology of AAAs is an important undertaking. Clinically, multiple risk factors are associated with the development of AAAs, including increasing age, positive smoking history, and hypertension. Male gender is also a well-established risk factor for the development of an AAA with a 4:1 male to female ratio. The reason for this gender disparity is unknown. The pathogenesis of AAAs formation is complex and multifactorial. Histologically, AAAs are characterized by early chemokine driven leukocyte infiltration into the aortic wall with subsequent destruction of elastin and collagen in the media and adventitia by excessive local production of matrix degrading enzymes, and smooth muscle cell loss with thinning of the aortic wall. At present, there are no medical therapies available to treat patients with aortic aneurysms, using only the crude measurement of aortic diameter as a threshold for which patients must undergo life-threatening and costly surgery, either open or endovascularly. Therefore, defining the early mechanisms underlying gender-related differences in AAA formation are critical and will be the focus of the present investigation. Understanding differences in disease patterns based on gender may allow us to develop new translational approaches to the prevention and treatment of patients with aortic aneurysms. Overall hypothesis: Gender- related differences in aortic aneurysm formation are mediated by the hormonal (androgen: estrogen ratio) regulation of leukocyte trafficking into the aortic wall.
Specific Aim 1. To define the mechanism by which early inflammatory cell recruitment is accelerated in males during AAA formation. Studies will test the hypothesis that increased incidence of AAAs in males is secondary to increased recruitment of leukocytes into the aortic wall driven by an excess of androgens relative to estrogens.
Specific Aim 2. To demonstrate that gonadal hormones can be used to modulate the inflammatory response accompanying AAA formation. Studies will test the hypothesis that altering the androgen: estrogen environment can dictate the prevalence of aneurysm formation by altering the forementioned specific soluble mediator dependent leukocyte trafficking, ultimately driving the balance of matrix degradation and repair toward aneurysm formation.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01HL081629-03S1
Application #
7842122
Study Section
Bioengineering, Technology and Surgical Sciences Study Section (BTSS)
Program Officer
Tolunay, Eser
Project Start
2009-07-15
Project End
2010-07-01
Budget Start
2009-07-15
Budget End
2010-07-01
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$119,609
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Surgery
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
073133571
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
Fashandi, Anna Z; Hawkins, Robert B; Salmon, Morgan D et al. (2018) A novel reproducible model of aortic aneurysm rupture. Surgery 163:397-403
Spinosa, Michael; Lu, Guanyi; Su, Gang et al. (2018) Human mesenchymal stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles attenuate aortic aneurysm formation and macrophage activation via microRNA-147. FASEB J :fj201701138RR
Lu, Guanyi; Su, Gang; Davis, John P et al. (2017) A novel chronic advanced stage abdominal aortic aneurysm murine model. J Vasc Surg 66:232-242.e4
Pope, Nicolas H; Salmon, Morgan; Davis, John P et al. (2016) D-series resolvins inhibit murine abdominal aortic aneurysm formation and increase M2 macrophage polarization. FASEB J 30:4192-4201
Sharma, Ashish K; Salmon, Morgan D; Lu, Guanyi et al. (2016) Mesenchymal Stem Cells Attenuate NADPH Oxidase-Dependent High Mobility Group Box 1 Production and Inhibit Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 36:908-18
Fashandi, Anna Z; Ellis, Scott R; Smith, Philip W et al. (2016) Overwhelming Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection after Reversal of Diverting Loop Ileostomy Created for Prior Fulminant C. difficile Colitis. Am Surg 82:e194-5
Davis, John P; Salmon, Morgan; Pope, Nicolas H et al. (2016) Pharmacologic blockade and genetic deletion of androgen receptor attenuates aortic aneurysm formation. J Vasc Surg 63:1602-1612.e2
Johnston, William F; Salmon, Morgan; Su, Gang et al. (2015) Aromatase is required for female abdominal aortic aneurysm protection. J Vasc Surg 61:1565-74.e1-4
Pope, Nicolas H; Salmon, Morgan; Johnston, William F et al. (2015) Interleukin-6 Receptor Inhibition Prevents Descending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Formation. Ann Thorac Surg 100:1620-6
Davis, John P; Salmon, Morgan; Pope, Nicolas H et al. (2015) Attenuation of aortic aneurysms with stem cells from different genders. J Surg Res 199:249-58

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