SMAD3 Deficiency Promotes Inflammatory Aortic Aneurysms in Angiotensin II–Infused Mice Via Activation of iNOS

Ninety percent of the patients carrying distinct SMAD3 mutations develop aortic aneurysms and dissections, called aneurysms-osteoarthritis syndrome (AOS). However, the etiology and molecular events downstream of SMAD3 leading to the pathogenesis of aortic aneurysms in these patients still remain elusive. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the vascular phenotypes of SMAD3-knockout mice.We have shown that angiotensin II-induced vascular...