Losartan, an AT1 antagonist, prevents aortic aneurysm in a mouse model of Marfan syndrome

JP Habashi, DP Judge, TM Holm, RD Cohn, BL Loeys… - Science, 2006 - science.org
JP Habashi, DP Judge, TM Holm, RD Cohn, BL Loeys, TK Cooper, L Myers, EC Klein, G Liu…
Science, 2006science.org
Aortic aneurysm and dissection are manifestations of Marfan syndrome (MFS), a disorder
caused by mutations in the gene that encodes fibrillin-1. Selected manifestations of MFS
reflect excessive signaling by the transforming growth factor–β (TGF-β) family of cytokines.
We show that aortic aneurysm in a mouse model of MFS is associated with increased TGF-β
signaling and can be prevented by TGF-β antagonists such as TGF-β–neutralizing antibody
or the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1) blocker, losartan. AT1 antagonism also partially …
Aortic aneurysm and dissection are manifestations of Marfan syndrome (MFS), a disorder caused by mutations in the gene that encodes fibrillin-1. Selected manifestations of MFS reflect excessive signaling by the transforming growth factor–β (TGF-β) family of cytokines. We show that aortic aneurysm in a mouse model of MFS is associated with increased TGF-β signaling and can be prevented by TGF-β antagonists such as TGF-β–neutralizing antibody or the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1) blocker, losartan. AT1 antagonism also partially reversed noncardiovascular manifestations of MFS, including impaired alveolar septation. These data suggest that losartan, a drug already in clinical use for hypertension, merits investigation as a therapeutic strategy for patients with MFS and has the potential to prevent the major life-threatening manifestation of this disorder.
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