Aortic aneurysm and atherosclerosis – cause and effect relationship

Aortic aneurysm and atherosclerosis is associated with the present of abnormal rennin-angiotensin regulation



Funding year: 2010



Amount funded: $89,650



Lead researcher:
Dr Maria Nataatmadja PhD, MDSc, DDS



Research team:
Professor Malcolm West PhD, FRACP, MBBS 
Assoc. Prof. Philip Walker FRACS, MBBS, FLEX
Dr Russell Fraser PhD, BSc (Hons)



Location of research:
The Prince Charles Hospital, 627 Rode Road, Chermside, Queensland



Project description:
An increasing aortic diameter and formation of aortic aneurysm is a potentially dangerous condition with surgical repair the only effective treatment. Development of aneurysm is silent with diagnosis often an accidental finding at an advanced stage or at the time of aortic rupture or dissection. Despite extensive research the underlying mechanism of aneurysm development is not clear although environmental, genetic, mechanical and haemodynamic factors all contribute to the complex abnormalities. Atherosclerosis is usually absent in thoracic aortic aneurysm but prominent in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The nature of the link between atherosclerosis and AAA is not known. We hypothesise that abnormal regulation of inflammatory and stem cells due to altered expression of growth factor signalling pathways are key elements in aneurysm formation. In this study we aim to determine whether normalisation of growth factor signalling pathways leads to adjustment in inflammatory and stem cell regulation. Corroborative studies will also be undertaken in the aneurysm mouse model and correlations will be made between the presence of aneurysm progression and vascular wall thickness and atherosclerosis development. The outcome of the proposed study will improve understanding of the aneurysm development and may identify novel treatment targeting inhibition or reversal of aneurysm formation.