title: The role of oxidative stress in cerebral aneurysm formation and rupture.
abstract: Oxidative stress is known to contribute to the progression of cerebrovascular disease. Additionally, oxidative stress may be increased by, but also augment inflammation, a key contributor to cerebral aneurysm development and rupture. Oxidative stress can induce important processes leading to cerebral aneurysm formation including direct endothelial injury as well as smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching to an inflammatory phenotype and ultimately apoptosis. Oxidative stress leads to recruitment and invasion of inflammatory cells through upregulation of chemotactic cytokines and adhesion molecules. Matrix metalloproteinases can be activated by free radicals leading to vessel wall remodeling and breakdown. Free radicals mediate lipid peroxidation leading to atherosclerosis and contribute to hemodynamic stress and hypertensive pathology, all integral elements of cerebral aneurysm development. Preliminary studies suggest that therapies targeted at oxidative stress may provide a future beneficial treatment for cerebral aneurysms, but further studies are indicated to define the role of free radicals in cerebral aneurysm formation and rupture. The goal of this review is to assess the role of oxidative stress in cerebral aneurysm pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Joseph and Marie Field Cerebrovascular Research Laboratory, Division of Neurovascular & Endovascular Surgery, Department of Neurological Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA.
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Starke
authors.forename: Nohra
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chalouhi
authors.forename: Muhammad S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Pascal M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Jabbour
authors.forename: Stavropoula I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Tjoumakaris
authors.forename: L Fernando
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Rosenwasser
authors.forename: Walter J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Aaron S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Dumont
mesh_terms: D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species