Activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in abdominal aortic aneurysm: A potential therapeutic opportunity?

Abstract

[eng] Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common degenerative vascular disease with a prevalence up to 8% in males over 60 years of age.1 This is a complex disorder characterized by permanent and focal dilation of abdominal aorta that exceeds at least 50% of the normal diameter. In these patients, the aortic diameter progressively expands boosted by smoking and aging as major risk factors. Unfortunately, aneurysm growth increases the risk of aortic rupture, a life-threatening emergency that carries a mortality rate of 80%. Despite the increasing effort of the scientific community to identify therapeutic strategies for AAA, there are currently no pharmacological tools that ameliorate aneurysm expansion, while the underlying mechanisms involved in this disease are not completely understood.