Recent Advances in Pharmacotherapy Development for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Figure 2

Pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) with potential therapeutic drugs. Intracellular signaling molecules are activated by several types of proinflammatory mediators, while activated signaling pathways also enhance inflammatory mediators. Moreover, the activated signaling molecules shift the balance of extracellular matrix metabolism toward degradation, leading to AAA progression. Pharmacologic agents targeting each aspect of the pathological processes are demonstrated. ACE: angiotensin converting enzyme; ARB: angiotensin II receptor blocker; PDTC: pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate; TNF: tumor necrosis factor; IL: interleukin; MCP: monocyte chemoattractant protein; Ang: angiotensin; NO: nitric oxide; JNK: c-jun N-terminal kinase; NF: nuclear factor; MMP: matrix metalloproteinase; LOX: lysyl oxidase; ECM: extracellular matrix; VSMC: vascular smooth muscle cell.