Progress in the Mechanisms of Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection

Aortic aneurysm and dissection are among the most prevalent acute and critical diseases encountered in clinical practice. These conditions often remain asymptomatic until they progress to an advanced stage, at which point patients may experience symptoms related to rupture and hemorrhage, posing a significant threat to life. Clinical treatments lack effective drugs, so it’s difficult to relieve gravity of this diseases. Surgical repair or endovascular repair is the only treatment option for these diseases. In order to explore new therapies to treat the diseases, finding underlying mechanisms is necessary. Most researches now focus on inflammation, phenotypic transformation, loss of smooth muscle cells, and an activation of matrix metalloproteinases. However, the concrete molecular and cellular mechanisms, particularly around inflammation, phenotypic transformation, and matrix metalloproteinases activation, in the progression of these diseases in clinical practice are still obscure, highlighting the need for further exploration. This review illustrates the recent researches results and pathogenetic mechanisms of aortic aneurysm and dissection, reinforcing our understanding of these complex and life-threatening conditions.