title: Adiponectin attenuates abdominal aortic aneurysm formation in hyperlipidemic mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are age-associated, life-threatening inflammatory dilations of the abdominal aorta. Human population studies have shown an association between obesity and AAA formation, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this connection remain largely unexplored. Adiponectin is an anti-inflammatory adipokine that is downregulated in obesity. In this study we evaluated the role of adiponectin in a model of AAA using apolipoprotein E/adiponectin double-knockout (Apoe(-/-)Apn(-/-)) mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Angiotensin II (Ang II)-infusion in male Apoe(-/-)Apn(-/-) mice led to a higher incidence of AAA and a significant increase of maximal aortic diameter compared with that of Apoe(-/-) mice (2.12 ± 0.07 mm vs. 1.67 ± 0.09 mm, respectively at 28 days). Adiponectin deficiency augmented the early infiltration of macrophages and increased the expression of pro-inflammatory factors in the dilated aortic wall. MMP-2 and MMP-9 activation was also augmented in the aorta of Apoe(-/-)Apn(-/-) mice compared to Apoe(-/-) mice. These data suggest that the downregulation of adiponectin could directly contribute to the elevated incidence of AAA observed in obese individuals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adiponectin attenuates Ang II-induced vascular inflammation and AAA formation in mice.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Cardiology, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, 715 Albany Street, W611, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Sumiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.affiliation: Molecular Cardiology, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, 715 Albany Street, W611, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: José Javier
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Fuster
authors.affiliation: Molecular Cardiology, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, 715 Albany Street, W611, Boston, MA 02118, USA. Electronic address: kxwalsh@bu.edu.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000172:deficiency*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D018345:Mice, Knockout
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; C499919:Adipoq protein, mouse; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D000804:Angiotensin II; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
keywords: Abdominal aortic aneurysm; Adiponectin; Inflammation