Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), a prevalent disease amongst veterans, affects more than 1 in 9 smokers and is responsible for 10,000 documented deaths every year in the US. AAA treatment remains limited to surgical or endovascular repair for large aneurysms. This lack of an effective medical therapy reflects existing gaps in knowledge regarding the molecular mechanisms of AAA, and lack of reliable tools for evaluating vessel wall biology and monitoring therapeutic effectiveness in vivo. Several matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), including MMP-12 are upregulated in human AAA, and a number of MMPs have been linked to AAA development. Elastin degradation is a key feature of aneurysm and MMP-12 is considered the primary elastase in this setting. There are conflicting data regarding the role of MMP-12 in aneurysm development and emerging information point to both anti- and pro-inflammatory functions for MMP-12 in inflammatory disorders. This in conjunction with our preliminary data raise the intriguing hypothesis that MMP- 12 plays a dual role in aneurysm: inhibiting early stage aneurysm development through inhibition of neutrophil recruitment to the vessel wall, and promoting expansion and rupture of established aneurysms by enhancing vessel wall inflammation. Here, we introduce novel molecular imaging techniques for high resolution tracking of vessel wall inflammation and MMP/MMP-12 imaging, which in conjunction with selective inhibitors and knockout mice will be used to a) investigate the temporal and spatial pattern of MMP/MMP-12 activation in relation to AAA development, progression and rupture; and b) address the role of MMP-12 in aneurysm. Vascular remodeling will be tracked with high resolution multimodality molecular and structural imaging followed by histomorphometric analysis in two complementary murine models, namely angiotensin II-induced and calcium chloride-induced aneurysms. The temporal and spatial relationship between vessel wall biology, response to therapy, and aneurysm expansion and rupture will be addressed through serial imaging in the same animal. The effects of MMP-12 gene deletion and MMP-12 inhibition on aneurysm development, and evolution of established aneurysms will be addressed. Combined, these studies will address novel aspects of aneurysm pathobiology, validate novel therapeutic targets in preclinical models, and establish novel imaging approaches for evaluation of vessel wall biology in aneurysms. Ultimately, this should lead to improved management of patients with AAA (and possibly other vascular diseases); and reduce related morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs.
The VA patient population is characterized by a high prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms. By studying the mechanisms of disease progression, this project will help improve the management of patients with aortic aneurysms and lead to new treatments. Ultimately, this will improve the health of veterans and reduce healthcare costs.
