ZFP36 Protects against Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Formation by Regulating Vascular Smooth Muscle Phenotypic Switch.

ABSTRACT: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening aortic disease without effective pharmacological therapies. Mounting evidences suggested that RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) exert pivotal roles in various diseases including AAA. The public human AAA microarray dataset and the RBP database were used to screen the involved RBPs during AAA formation. The integrated analysis identified zinc finger protein 36 (ZFP36) as a potential mediator of AAA. Underexpression of ZFP36 was observed in aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) within aneurysms from patients and angiotensin II (AngII)-induced mice. Zfp36 deficiency in VSMCs augmented extracellular matrix (ECM) degeneration, VSMC phenotypic switch, and apoptosis, which promoted AAA formation in the AngII-infused model. In contrast,

SUBMITTER: Wu Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12808826 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature