主动脉瘤动物模型研究进展

主动脉瘤是一种多因素影响、具有潜在破裂风险的主动脉病理扩张性疾病。根据发病位置主动脉瘤可分为胸主动脉瘤和腹主动脉瘤。胸主动脉瘤的发生与年龄和性别相关性不大,而与遗传因素高度相关；腹主动脉瘤的发生与年龄、性别、动脉粥样硬化等相关,但与遗传关联性较弱。 主动脉瘤一般具有发病隐匿和破裂致死等特征,是严重威胁人类生命健康的慢性疾病,但其发病机制尚不完全清楚。主动脉瘤动物模型是研究人主动脉瘤的重要工具,对阐释主动脉瘤的病理生理学机制、研发和评价主动脉瘤的治疗药物都具有重要意义。当前关于腹主动脉瘤的动物模型有很多,也比较成熟,但是关于胸主动脉瘤的动物模型较少。实际上,多种方法诱导的腹主动脉瘤模型中,也会出现胸主动脉瘤,只不过发病率不同,胸主动脉瘤的发病率较低。本文将主动脉瘤动物模型归纳为非夹层主动脉瘤动物模型和夹层主动脉瘤动物模型,并简要综述这两类模型的构建方法及表型,为人类动脉瘤的防治研究提供参考。

Research progress of animal models of aortic aneurysm

Aortic aneurysm (AA) is a pathological dilatation disease of the aorta that is affected by multiple factors and has a potential risk of rupture. AA can be divided into thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) based on the location of aneurysm. The occurrence of TAA is highly relevant to genetic factors, and shows no age and gender differences. In contrast, the occurrence of AAA is related to age, gender, and atherosclerosis, but is not related with genetic factors. Most AA patients are asymptomatic, and generally have the characteristics of insidious onset and rupture to death. Therefore, AA is a serious life-threatening chronic disease, but its pathogenesis is not fully understood. The animal model of AA is of great significance to investigate the underlying pathophysiological mechanism, to develop and evaluate therapeutic drugs. Currently, there are many well-established animal models of AAA, but less of TAA. In fact, many established methods to induce AAA can also induce TAA. This review describes the AA animal models classified into non-dissected AA animal model and dissected AA animal model, and discusses the development methods and phenotypes of them, which may help us to find more efficient and reliable solutions against human aortic aneurysm.