Angiotensin II and abdominal aortic aneurysms: An update

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a devastating disease associated with high prevalence of death due to aortic rupture. Currently the therapy is restricted to surgical procedures to prevent aortic rupture, which in turn has a risk for postoperative mortality. There are no proven pharmacological therapies available to prevent expansion or rupture of AAA due to the paucity of knowledge on the mechanisms underlying the nature and pathophysiological processes of this complex disease. Animal models are powerful tools to provide mechanistic insights into understanding the development of AAA. Numerous pharmacological approaches have been explored as potential therapies in experimental AAA in the past decade. This review overviews recent advances in mechanistic studies of AAA in angiotensin II-infused mouse models and highlights their clinical relevance for possible therapeutic targets.