Pathological Implication of Adipocytes in AAA Development and the Rupture

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a vascular disease that involves the gradual dilation of the abdominal aorta followed by its rupture. AAA is closely associated with weakening of the vascular wall due to oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and degradation of the extracellular matrix. No effective drug therapy is currently available for preventing aneurysm progression or rupture. Adipocytes in the vascular wall are reportedly closely associated with AAA development and rupture. Fiber degradation in the aneurysm wall is enhanced by increased numbers of adipocytes, and rupture risk may increase as well. Recent studies suggested that appropriate control of adipocytes in the vascular wall may be an important strategy to prevent AAA rupture, and further studies may aid in the establishment of a method for preventing AAA rupture by therapeutic drugs or functional foods. In this review, we summarize adipocyte function and the correlation between AAA and adipocytes.