The aim of this proposal is to begin to define the genetic basis of familial aortic aneurysms. Aortic aneurysms are a relatively common disorder amongst the elderly and both environmental and genetic factors are important in the pathogenesis of this disease. From recent work in several laboratories, including preliminary data presented in this proposal, it's clear that mutations in type III collagen, an abundant vascular matrix protein, contribute towards a genetic predisposition to the development of aortic aneurysms. The characterization of type III collagen mutations in patients with late adult onset aneurysms will provide for the first time, the opportunity to evaluate whether the specific nature of the mutation will influence the phenotypic severity of the disorder. In addition, new evidence is presented in the proposal that demonstrates that mutations in another vascular matrix protein, elastin, are responsible for a monogenic disease characterized by vascular rupture. This application also intends to search for elastin mutations in patients with aortic aneurysms. In addition to a better understanding of the etiology of aortic aneurysms, this study hopes to facilitate the possibility of pre-symptomatic genetic risks analysis in a disease in which early diagnosis and surgical intervention can result in excellent long term survival.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01HL037438-06
Application #
3353091
Study Section
Pathology A Study Section (PTHA)
Project Start
1986-12-01
Project End
1995-11-30
Budget Start
1992-02-01
Budget End
1992-11-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
605799469
City
Newark
State
NJ
Country
United States
Zip Code
07107
Kim, Y; Boyd, C D; Csiszar, K (1997) A highly polymorphic (CA) repeat sequence in the human lysyl oxidase-like gene. Clin Genet 51:131-2
Urban, Z; Csiszar, K; Fekete, G et al. (1997) A tetranucleotide repeat polymorphism within the human elastin gene (ELNi1). Clin Genet 51:133-4
Anderson, D W; Edwards, T K; Ricketts, M H et al. (1996) Multiple defects in type III collagen synthesis are associated with the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Ann N Y Acad Sci 800:216-28
Csiszar, K; Entersz, I; Trackman, P C et al. (1996) Functional analysis of the promoter and first intron of the human lysyl oxidase gene. Mol Biol Rep 23:97-108
Chan, E L; Belem, P; Ciocca, R G et al. (1996) Incidence of cancer and abdominal aortic aneurysms. A logistic regression analysis. Ann N Y Acad Sci 800:68-73
Urban, Z; Helms, C; Fekete, G et al. (1996) 7q11.23 deletions in Williams syndrome arise as a consequence of unequal meiotic crossover. Am J Hum Genet 59:958-62
Sechler, J L; Sandberg, L B; Roos, P J et al. (1995) Elastin gene mutations in transgenic mice. Ciba Found Symp 192:148-65;discussion 165-71
Kim, Y; Boyd, C D; Csiszar, K (1995) A new gene with sequence and structural similarity to the gene encoding human lysyl oxidase. J Biol Chem 270:7176-82
Kagan, H M; Reddy, V B; Narasimhan, N et al. (1995) Catalytic properties and structural components of lysyl oxidase. Ciba Found Symp 192:100-15;discussion 115-21
Schwartz, E; Feinberg, E; Lebwohl, M et al. (1995) Ultraviolet radiation increases tropoelastin accumulation by a post-transcriptional mechanism in dermal fibroblasts. J Invest Dermatol 105:65-9

Showing the most recent 10 out of 20 publications