Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate promotes abdominal aortic aneurysm in mice
The widespread use of plasticizers like di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) has led to environmental and health concerns. Recent studies have revealed a positive association between DEHP exposure and cardiovascular disease. However, the relationship between DEHP exposure and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) remains poorly understood. To address this bottleneck, C57BL/6J male mice were utilized to establish a murine CaCl2-induced AAA model, followed by an oral gavage administration of 50 and 250 mg/kg DEHP for 4 weeks. It has been found that DEHP could significantly increase the maximal abdominal aortic diameter and promote vascular inflammation and elastin degradation. Overall, we demonstrate that DEHP aggravates AAA formation by promoting macrophages M1 polarization and VSMCs phenotypic switching. The present study expands the understanding of the toxic effects and molecular mechanisms of DEHP, providing a new perspective for in-depth cardiovascular toxicity exploration of similar compounds.