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Ccn2 deletion predisposes to aortic aneurysm formation and death in mice which is partially reduced by mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist treatment
  • +13
  • Raúl Rodrigues Díez,
  • Antonio Tejera-Muñoz,
  • Vanesa Esteban,
  • Lasse Steffensen,
  • Raquel Rodrigues-Diez,
  • Macarena Orejudo,
  • Sandra Rayego Mateos,
  • Lucas Falke,
  • Pablo Cannata,
  • Alberto Ortiz,
  • Jesús Egido,
  • Ziad Mallat,
  • Ana Bríones,
  • Maria Bajo,
  • Roel Goldschmeding,
  • Marta Ruiz-Ortega
Raúl Rodrigues Díez
Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de la Fundación Jiménez Díaz

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Antonio Tejera-Muñoz
Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de la Fundación Jiménez Díaz
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Vanesa Esteban
Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria de la Fundacion Jimenez Diaz
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Lasse Steffensen
University of Southern Denmark. Unit of Cardiovascular and Renal Research
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Raquel Rodrigues-Diez
Universidad Autonoma de Madrid
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Macarena Orejudo
Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria-Fundación Jiménez Díaz (IIS-FJD)
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Sandra Rayego Mateos
Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria-Fundación Jiménez Díaz (IIS-FJD)
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Lucas Falke
University Medical Center Utrecht
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Pablo Cannata
Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria-Fundación Jiménez Díaz (IIS-FJD)
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Alberto Ortiz
Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria-Fundación Jiménez Díaz (IIS-FJD)
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Jesús Egido
IIS-Fundacion Jimenez Diaz
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Ziad Mallat
University of Cambridge
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Ana Bríones
Universidad Autonoma de Madrid
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Maria Bajo
Instituto de Investigación- Hospital universitario La Paz
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Roel Goldschmeding
Utrecht University
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Marta Ruiz-Ortega
Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria-Fundación Jiménez Díaz (IIS-FJD)
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Abstract

Background and Purpose: Cellular Communication Network Factor 2 (CCN2) is a matricellular protein normally present in the vascular wall but overexpressed in several cardiovascular diseases. CCN2 has been proposed as a downstream mediator of profibrotic actions of Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-β and Angiotensin II (Ang II). However, its direct role in cardiovascular diseases is not completely understood. Experimental Approach: To investigate the direct role of CCN2 under vascular pathological conditions, a conditionally deficient CCN2 (CCN2-KO) mouse was evaluated infused or not with Ang II. Key Results: In the absence of CCN2, Ang II infusion induced a rapid (within 48 hours) aortic aneurysm generation and increased aneurysm rupture with 80 % lethality at the endpoint. CCN2 deletion caused elastin layer disruption and increased metalloproteinase activity, which were aggravated by Ang II administration. Aortic RNA-seq studies and the subsequent Gene Ontology enriched analysis pointed out the aldosterone biosynthesis process as one of the most enriched terms in absence of CCN2. Pharmacological aldosterone pathway intervention in Ang II-infused CCN2-KO mice, by treatment with the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist spironolactone, reduced aneurysm formation and mortality after Ang II infusion. Conclusion and Implications: CCN2 deletion induces a rapid aneurysm formation and rupture after Ang II infusion which is partially prevented by blocking the mineralocorticoid receptor. Our present data highlight, for the first time, the potential role of CCN2 as a vascular homeostatic factor and its relevance in the aldosterone synthesis, opening new avenues to future studies in aortic aneurysm treatment.