Mechanical behavior and matrisome gene expression in the aneurysm-prone thoracic aorta of newborn lysyl oxidase knockout mice.

ABSTRACT: Mutations in lysyl oxidase (LOX) are associated with thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD). Mice that do not express Lox (Lox^-/- ) die soon after birth and have 60% and 40% reductions in elastin- and collagen-specific cross-links, respectively. LOX inactivation could also change the expression of secreted factors, the structural matrix, and matrix-associated proteins that constitute the aortic matrisome. We hypothesized that absence of Lox will change the mechanical behavior of the aortic wall because of reduced elastin and collagen cross-linking and alter the expression levels of matrisome and smooth muscle cell (SMC) genes in a vascular location-specific manner. Using fluorescence microscopy, pressure myography, and gene set enrichment analysis, w

SUBMITTER: Staiculescu MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5582924 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature