Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a serious disease with no effective pharmacological therapy. Although inflammation is recognized as a key regulator of AAA, targeting inflammatory pathways once the Show more
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a serious disease with no effective pharmacological therapy. Although inflammation is recognized as a key regulator of AAA, targeting inflammatory pathways once the disease is established does not improve outcomes. Understanding the earliest molecular indicators could clarify precise biological targets and prognostic markers for AAA. Using ApoE-deficient mice, we performed RNA-Seq on suprarenal abdominal aortas (SRAs) from Ang II- and saline-treated mice 24 h after infusion. We further developed a unique model of hyperlipidemic mice in which the expression of the inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B kinase subunit beta (IKKβ) can be conditionally suppressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). RNA-Seq data revealed early IKKβ-dependent cellular anabolic processes in SRAs, including activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) pathway. Furthermore, deletion of the Show less