The Influence of Statin Treatment on Aneurysmatic Disease

The altered balance between the proteinases and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPS) is one of the pathogenetical mechanism of the aneurysmal connective tissue degeneration. The increase of protease, collagenase and elastase activity results indeed in a dramatic drop of collagen and elastin tissue and serum levels.

Vessels wall strength decrease is associated with the blood flow shear stress and affects negatively the walls integrity, causing the aneurysmatic vessel degeneration.

Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a group of proteolytic enzymes that along with their specific and non-specific inhibitors modulate the extracellular matrix composition.

So far, 25 MMPs have been discovered, in particular, the ones that will be considered in this study are: MMP-2, MMP-9, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) a related protein which is able to control MMP-9 activities.

Inflammation plays a central role in the pathogenetical pathway of aneurysmatic developement. Recent studies have suggested an interesting role of miRNAs in the regulation mechanisms of inflammation. miRNAs are short ribonucleic acid molecules usually composed of 20 to 25 nucleotides that can regulate mRNA transcription and protein translation by targeting the 3'-untranslated regions (3'-UTR) of target genes. miRNAs are involved in various physiological responses and pathological processes. Increasing evidence suggest that miRNAs are involved in inflammatory responses. In particular the ones that will be focused on this study are: miR-29b, miR-21, miR-181a, miR-150.