Percutaneous Extraction of Embolized Intracardiac Inferior Vena Cava Filter Struts Using Fused Intracardiac Ultrasound and Electroanatomic Mapping.

This report describes the percutaneous extraction of embolized intracardiac inferior vena cava (IVC) filter struts using fluoroscopy and fused intracardiac echocardiography and three-dimensional electroanatomic mapping. Six patients with indwelling IVC filters placed at outside institutions 5 months to 14 years previously presented with cross-sectional imaging of the chest demonstrating fractured IVC filter struts embolized to the myocardial free wall (four patients) or interventricular septum (two patients). All embolized filter struts were successfully retrieved, and open heart surgery was avoided.

Image-guided therapies in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: A multidisciplinary perspective.

A multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has led to improvements in screening, detection, and treatments. Interventional techniques include thermal ablation, transarterial chemoembolization, and radioembolization whilst stereotactic body radiation therapy also uses imaging to target the radiation. Both survival rates and cure rates have improved markedly since the introduction of these techniques. This review article describes the image guided techniques used for the treatment of HCC.

Gender differences in abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) comprise the tenth leading cause of death in Caucasian males 65 to 74 years of age and accounted for nearly 16,000 deaths overall in 2000. Therefore, understanding the pathophysiology of AAAs is an important undertaking. Clinically, multiple risk factors are associated with the development of AAAs, including increasing age, positive smoking history, and hypertension. Male gender is also a well-established risk factor for the development of an AAA, with a 4:1 male to female ratio. The reason for this gender disparity is unknown. The pathogenesis of AAAs formation is complex and multifactorial. Histologically, AAAs are characterized by early chemokine-driven leukocyte infiltration into the aortic wall. Subsequent destruction of elastin and collagen in the media and adventitia ensues owing to excessive local production of matrix-degrading enzymes and is accompanied by smooth muscle cell loss and thinning of the aortic wall. At present, no medical therapies are available to treat patients with aortic aneurysms, using only the crude measurement of aortic diameter as a threshold for which patients must undergo life-threatening and costly surgery. Defining the early mechanisms underlying gender-related differences in AAA formation is critical as understanding differences in disease patterns based on gender may allow us to develop new translational approaches to the prevention and treatment of patients with aortic aneurysms.

Differential effect of 17-beta-estradiol on smooth muscle cell and aortic explant MMP2.

OBJECTIVE: The present investigation tested the hypothesis that intrinsic gender-related differences exist in rat aortic smooth muscle cell matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2). METHODS: This investigation comprised 3 sets of experiments. Experiment I: Adult male and female rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs) at passages 4-8 were stimulated in serum-free media for 48 h with interleukin(IL)1beta at doses encountered in human abdominal aortic aneurysms (2 ng/mL). Messenger RNA was extracted from the RASMCs, and gene expression of MMP2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP2), a major MMP2 inhibitor, was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. MMP2 protein levels in conditioned media were measured by Western blotting, and MMP2 and TIMP2 activity quantified by standard and reverse gelatin zymography. Experiment II: Male and female RASMCs were incubated for 48 h in Dulbecco's modified Eagler's medium containing IL-1beta and 17-beta-estradiol at doses from 1x10(-10) to 1x10(-6) molar. MMP2 activity in the conditioned media was then determined. Experiment III: Male rats underwent sustained 17-beta-estradiol exposure for 21 d using extended-release, subcutaneously implanted pellets prior to sacrifice and aortic explantation. Aortas from males, females, and estradiol-treated males were stimulated with IL-1beta for 48-h, and MMP2 activity in the conditioned media was determined. RESULTS: Experiment I: MMP2 gene expression was 3-fold higher in male compared with female IL-1beta stimulated RASMCs (P<0.0001). MMP2:TIMP2 gene expression ratio was 7.5-fold greater in male versus female RASMCs. MMP2 protein levels were 3-fold higher (2.68 versus 0.96 o.d./mg total protein, P=0.003) in male versus female RASMCs. Gelatinolytic activity was more than 6-fold higher (15,010 versus 2,472 o.d./mg total protein, P=0.002) in male versus female RASMCs. Experiment II: MMP2 activity in male and female RASMCs was not altered by a wide range of 17-beta-estradiol concentrations. Experiment III: When pretreated with 17-beta-estradiol, MMP2 activity in the media of male rat whole-aortic explants decreased 2-fold (P=0.002). This post-17-beta-estradiol treatment male level was not different than baseline female aortic explant MMP2 levels. CONCLUSIONS: MMP2 is higher in male RASMCs compared to female RASMCs. Exogenous 17-beta-estradiol did not alter MMP2 activity in vitro, but in vivo 17-beta-estradiol exposure greatly decreased male aortic MMP2 production to levels seen in the female aorta. Gender differences in MMP2 are speculated to be associated with phenotypic differences in human abdominal aortic aneurysm formation.

Differential regulation of the superoxide dismutase family in experimental aortic aneurysms and rat aortic explants.

OBJECTIVE: Oxidative stress has been implicated in abdominal aortic aneurysm pathogenesis. This study sought to characterize the relevance of superoxide dismutases (SOD), a family of reactive oxygen catalyzing metalloenzymes, including manganese SOD (MnSOD), copper-zinc SOD (CuZnSOD), and extracellular SOD (EcSOD), in a rodent aortic aneurysm model. METHODS: Male rat infrarenal abdominal aortas were perfused with either saline (control) or porcine pancreatic elastase (6 U/mL). Aortic diameter was measured and aortas harvested on post-operation days 1, 2, and 7 (N=5-6 per treatment group per day). MnSOD, CuZnSOD, EcSOD, catalase, MMP-2, MMP-9, and beta-actin expression in aortic tissue was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. MnSOD protein levels were measured using western immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. In subsequent experiments, aimed at understanding the mechanism by which SOD is involved in AAA pathogenesis, rat aortic explants (RAEs) were incubated in media for 24 h in the presence of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta, 2 ng/mL) and TEMPOL (SOD mimetic), catalase, or a combined SOD and catalase mimetic. Media MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity was determined by zymography. Data were analyzed by Student's t-tests and ANOVA. RESULTS: Elastase-perfused aortic diameters were significantly increased compared to control aortas by post-perfusion day 7 (P=0.016). MnSOD mRNA levels in elastase perfused aortas were 6.0 (P=0.05) and 7.5 times (P<0.01) greater than control aortas at post-perfusion days 1 and 2, respectively. EcSOD, CuZnSOD, catalase, and MMP-2 mRNA expression did not statistically vary between the two groups. MMP-9 expression was 3.5-fold higher in the elastase group on post-perfusion day 2 (P=0.04). Western immunoblotting confirmed MnSOD protein was up-regulated on day 4 in the elastase-perfused group compared to controls (P=0.02). Immunohistrochemistry demonstrated increased MnSOD staining in the elastase group on day 4. In RAE experiments, TEMPOL increased both MMP-9 and MMP-2 activity 2 (P=0.09) and 3-fold (P=0.05), respectively, whereas catalase and the combined SOD/catalase mimetic failed to increase MMP-2 or MMP-9 activity. CONCLUSION: Experimental abdominal aortic aneurysm formation is associated with early increases in MnSOD expression and an increase in MMP-9 activity. Strategies aimed at inhibiting oxidative stress during AAA formation should focus on MnSOD.

Attenuation of experimental aortic aneurysm formation in P-selectin knockout mice.

The aim of this study was to determine the role of P-selectin, an adhesion molecule found on the surface of activated platelets and endothelial cells during experimental aortic aneurysm formation. Infrarenal abdominal aortas of C57 black wild-type (WT) mice and P-selectin knockout (PKO) mice were measured in situ and then perfused with porcine pancreatic elastase (0.332 U/mL). Whole blood was drawn from the tail artery on day 2 pre-perfusion to determine total and differential white blood cell (WBC) counts. On day 14 postperfusion, aortic diameters (AD) of WT mice (N = 19) and PKO mice (N = 9) were measured. An aortic aneurysm was defined as a 100% or greater increase in AD from pre-perfusion measurement. Immunohistochemistry, including H&E, trichrome and von Gieson staining, was performed on harvested aortic tissue. Statistical analysis was performed by t-test and Fisher's exact test. There were no significant differences in peripheral leukocyte counts at baseline between the two groups. WT mice had significantly larger AD compared to PKO mice at day 14 postperfusion (116 % vs. 38 %, P < 0.001). Aortic aneurysm penetrance was 52% in WT mice, while 0% (P = 0.01) of PKO mice formed aneurysms. On histologic examination, WT mouse aortas were associated with a significant inflammatory response and degradation of elastin and collagen fibers, while PKO mouse aortas lacked signs of inflammation or vessel wall injury. P-selectin deficiency attenuates aneurysm formation in the elastase aortic perfusion model. This was associated with a blunting of the inflammatory response and preserved vessel wall intergrity following elastase perfusion in the P-selectin knockout mice. Further investigation to elucidate the independent contributions of endothelial cell and platelet P-selectin in experimental aortic aneurysm formation is required.

The nitric oxide donor DETA-NONOate decreases matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression and activity in rat aortic smooth muscle and abdominal aortic explants.

Our objective was to examine the role of an exogenous nitric oxide (NO) donor, DETA-NONOate (DETA), on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, MMP-2, and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 expression and activity in interleukin (IL)-1beta-induced rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RA-SMCs) and rat aortic explants (RAEs). RA-SMCs were incubated with IL-1beta (2 ng/ml), an inflammatory cytokine known to induce MMP-9 expression, and increasing concentrations of DETA (0, 1.0, 10, 100 microM; n = 3/group) for 48 hr. RAEs were incubated with IL-1beta (2 ng/mL) and increasing concentrations of DETA (0, 5.0, 50, 100, and 500 microM; n = 3/group) for 48 hr. Media were collected and assayed for NO(x) by the Griess reaction and MMP-9 activity by zymography. Messenger RNA (mRNA) was extracted from cells and analyzed for MMP-9, MMP-2, and TIMP-1 expression levels by quantitative real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. All statistical analyses were performed by analysis of variance. In RA-SMCs and RAEs, DETA administration resulted in a dose-dependent increase in media NOx concentration (RA-SCM p < 0.01, RAE p < 0.01) and a concurrent decrease in both MMP-9 expression (RASMC p = 0.01, RAE p = 0.01) and activity (RASMC p = 0.04, RAE p = 0.006). There were no significant differences seen in MMP-2 and TIMP-1 expression or activity in response to DETA exposure. DETA decreased IL-1beta-induced MMP-9 expression and activity in both RA-SMCs and RAEs in a dose-dependent fashion. In addition, DETA administration had no effect on MMP-2 or TIMP-1 expression or activity in vitro. These data suggest that NO donors may be beneficial in decreasing MMP-9 levels and might serve to inhibit MMP-9-dependent vessel wall remodeling seen during abdominal aortic aneurysm formation.

Mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis in experimental rodent abdominal aortic aneurysms.

OBJECTIVES: While extrinsic mechanisms of apoptosis in abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are recognized, this project hypothesizes that an intrinsic, mitochondrial-dependent, mechanism of apoptosis also contributes to experimental AAA formation. METHODS: Rat aortas were perfused with either saline or elastase (N = 5 per group) and harvested 7 days postperfusion. The aortas were placed in gluteraldehyde for subsequent transmission electron microscopy, Bouin's solution for TUNEL, or paraformaldehyde for immunohistochemical staining for caspase-9, caspase-3, and Bid. RESULTS: Abdominal aortic diameters increased 168 +/- 25% (mean +/- SEM) after elastase perfusion. compared with 30 +/- 5% after saline perfusion (P < .001). Apoptosis of aortic smooth muscle cells, macrophages, and neutrophils was evidenced by transmission electron microscopy and TUNEL in the elastase-perfused aneurysmal aortas. Quantitative analysis of the apoptotic cells revealed a significant (P < .01) increase in the number of total apoptotic cells in the elastase-perfused aortas (12 +/- 3 cells per high-power field), compared with that of saline-infused controls (1.3 +/- 0.2). Caspase-9, the key initiator in the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway, stained positively in only elastase-perfused aortas. Bid staining was not detected in either the elastase-perfused aortas or the saline controls. CONCLUSIONS: Apoptosis is evident in multiple cell lines in elastase-perfused aneurysmal aortas, but rarely observed in control aortas. Caspase-9, the key initiator of intrinsic apoptosis, was documented only in elastase-perfused aortas. These results suggest that mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis is associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm formation.

L-selectin-mediated neutrophil recruitment in experimental rodent aneurysm formation.

BACKGROUND: This investigation tested the hypothesis that L-selectin is important in experimental abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) formation in rodents. METHODS AND RESULTS: Rat abdominal aortas were perfused with saline (control) or porcine pancreatic elastase and studied on postperfusion days 1, 2, 4, 7, and 14 (n=5 per treatment group per day). Neutrophil (polymorphonucleur leukocyte, PMN) and macrophage counts per high-powered field (HPF) were performed on fixed sections. L-selectin expression and protein levels in aortic tissue were determined by polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. Elastase-perfused aortic diameters were significantly increased compared with control aortas at all time points except day 1 (P<0.05). PMN counts significantly increased in elastase-perfused aortas compared with control aortas at days 1, 2, and 4, reaching maximum levels at day 7 (40.8 versus 0.3 PMNs/HPF, P=0.001). L-selectin mRNA expression in elastase-perfused aortas was 18 (P=0.018), 17 (P<0.001), and 8 times (P=0.02) times greater than control aortas at days 1, 2, and 4, respectively. Western blot demonstrated a significant 69% increase in L-selectin protein at day 7 in elastase- as compared with saline-perfused aortas (P=0.005). Subsequent experiments involved similar studies on postperfusion days 4, 7, and 14 of aortas from C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) mice (n=21) and L-selectin-knockout (LKO) mice (n=19). LKO mice had significantly smaller aortic diameters at day 14 as compared with WT mice (88% versus 123%, P=0.02). PMN counts were significantly greater in elastase-perfused WT mouse aortas as compared with LKO mouse aortas at day 4 after perfusion (12.8 versus 4.8 PMNs/HPF, P=0.02). Macrophage counts were significantly greater at all time points after perfusion in elastase-perfused WT mouse aortas compared with elastase-perfused LKO mouse aortas, with a maximum difference at day 7 after perfusion (13.3 versus 0.5 macrophages/HPF, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: L-selectin-mediated neutrophil recruitment may be a critical early step in AAA formation.

Neutrophil depletion inhibits experimental abdominal aortic aneurysm formation.

BACKGROUND: Neutrophils may be an important source of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), two matrix-degrading enzymes thought to be critical in the formation of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The purpose of this investigation was to test the hypothesis that neutrophil depletion would limit experimental AAA formation by altering one or both of these enzymes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Control, rabbit serum-treated (RS; n=27) or anti-neutrophil-antibody-treated (anti-PMN; n=25) C57BL/6 mice underwent aortic elastase perfusion to induce experimental aneurysms. Anti-PMN-treated mice became neutropenic (mean, 349 cells/microL), experiencing an 84% decrease in the circulating absolute neutrophil count (P<0.001) before elastase perfusion. Fourteen days after elastase perfusion, control mice exhibited a mean aortic diameter (AD) increase of 104+/-14% (P<0.0001), and 67% developed AAAs, whereas anti-PMN-treated mice exhibited a mean AD increase of 42+/-33%, with 8% developing AAAs. The control group also had increased tissue neutrophils (20.3 versus 8.6 cells per 5 high-powered fields [HPFs]; P=0.02) and macrophages (6.1 versus 2.1 cells per 5 HPFs, P=0.005) as compared with anti-PMN-treated mice. There were no differences in monocyte chemotactic protein-1 or macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha chemokine levels between groups by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Neutrophil collagenase (MMP-8) expression was detected only in the 14-day control mice, with increased MMP-8 protein levels by Western blotting (P=0.017), and MMP-8-positive neutrophils were seen almost exclusively in this group. Conversely, there were no statistical differences in MMP-2 or MMP-9 mRNA expression, protein levels, enzyme activity, or immunostaining patterns between groups. When C57BL/6 wild-type (n=15) and MMP-8-deficient mice (n=17) were subjected to elastase perfusion, however, ADs at 14 days were no different in size (134+/-7.9% versus 154+/-9.9%; P=0.603), which suggests that MMP-8 serves only as a marker for the presence of neutrophils and is not critical for AAA formation. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating neutrophils are an important initial component of experimental AAA formation. Neutrophil depletion inhibits AAA development through a non-MMP-2/9-mediated mechanism associated with attenuated inflammatory cell recruitment.

Tamoxifen up-regulates catalase production, inhibits vessel wall neutrophil infiltration, and attenuates development of experimental abdominal aortic aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), similar to estrogens, possess vasoprotective effects by reducing release of reactive oxygen species. Little is known about the potential effects of SERMs on the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). This study's objective was to investigate the growth of experimental AAAs in the setting of the SERM tamoxifen. METHODS: In the first set of experiments, adult male rats underwent subcutaneous tamoxifen pellet (delivering 10 mg/kg/day) implantation (n = 14) or sham operation (n = 16). Seven days later, all animals underwent pancreatic elastase perfusion of the abdominal aorta. Aortic diameters were determined at that time, and aortas were harvested 7 and 14 days after elastase perfusion for immunohistochemistry, real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, and zymography. In the second set of experiments, a direct irreversible catalase inhibitor, 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (AT), was administered intraperitoneally (1 mg/kg) daily to tamoxifen-treated (n = 6) and control rats (n = 6), starting on day 7 after elastase perfusion. Aortic diameters were measured on day 14. In a third set of experiments, rats were perfused with catalase (150 mg/kg) after the elastase (n = 5), followed by daily intravenous injections of catalase (150 mg/kg/day) administered for 10 days. A control group of rats (n = 7) received 0.9% NaCl instead of catalase. RESULTS: Mean AAA diameters were approximately 50% smaller in tamoxifen-treated rats compared with sham rats 14 days after elastase perfusion (P = .002). The tamoxifen-treated group's aortas had a five-fold increase in catalase mRNA expression (P = .02) on day 7 and an eight-fold increase in catalase protein on day 14 (P = .04). Matrix metalloprotroteinase-9 activity was 2.4-fold higher (P = .01) on day 7 in the aortas of the controls compared to the tamoxifen-treated group's aortas. Tamoxifen-treated rats had approximately 40% fewer aortic polymorphonuclear neutrophils compared to controls on day 7 (P = .05). Administration of the direct catalase inhibitor AT to tamoxifen-treated rats partially reversed the aneurysm inhibitory effect of tamoxifen by nearly 30% (P = .02). In contrast, catalase administration inhibited AAA formation by 44% (P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: The selective estrogen receptor modulator tamoxifen inhibits the development of AAAs in male rats in association with an up-regulation of catalase and inhibition of aortic wall neutrophil infiltration.

Gender differences in experimental aortic aneurysm formation.

OBJECTIVE: It is hypothesized that a male predominance, similar to that in humans, persists in a rodent model of experimental abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) via alterations in matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). METHODS AND RESULTS: Group I experiments were as follows: elastase perfusion of the infrarenal aorta was performed in male (M) and female (F) rats. At 14 days, aortas were harvested for immunohistochemistry, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and zymography. Group II experiments were the following: abdominal aorta was transplanted from F or M donors into F or M recipients. At 14 days, rodents that had undergone transplantation underwent elastase perfusion. In group III, male rats were given estradiol or sham 5 days before elastase perfusion. In group I, M rats had larger AAAs with higher frequency than did F rats. M rat aortas had more significant macrophage infiltrates and increased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 production and activity. In group II, M-to-M aortic transplants uniformly developed aneurysms after elastase perfusion, whereas F-to-F aortic transplants remained resistant to aneurysm formation. F aortas transplanted into M recipients, however, lost aneurysm resistance. In group III, estradiol-treated rats demonstrated smaller aneurysms and less macrophage infiltrate and MMP-9 compared with M controls after elastase. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide evidence of gender-related differences in AAA development, which may reflect an estrogen-mediated reduction in macrophage MMP-9 production.

Early MT-1 MMP expression following elastase exposure is associated with increased cleaved MMP-2 activity in experimental rodent aortic aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the significance of membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) activation of MMP-2 in experimental abdominal aortic aneurysms. METHODS: Rat aortas were perfused with either saline as a control or elastase, and harvested on 2, 4, or 7 days after perfusion (n = 5 per treatment group/day). Aortic MT1-MMP and MMP-2 expression and protein were determined by real time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. Aortic explants were used to measure MMP-2 activity by zymography. Rat aortic smooth muscle cells in vitro were exposed to increasing doses of elastase and analyzed for MT-1 MMP expression. RESULTS: Aneurysms formed in 80% of the elastase-perfused aortas at 7 days, whereas none formed in the saline-perfused aortas. Significantly increased MT1-MMP expression was observed only on day 4, when levels were 6.5-fold higher in elastase-perfused aortas compared with saline-perfused aortas (P < .01). By day 7, MT1-MMP protein was present only in the elastase-perfused aortas (P = .02). By immunohistochemistry, MT1-MMP was detectable only in the elastase-perfused group at day 7. Cleaved MMP-2 activity (P = .045) was increased in elastase-perfused aortas compared with saline perfused aortas at day 7. In rat aortic smooth muscle cells, MT-1 MMP expression increased in response to elastase (P = .02). CONCLUSION: The rodent aortic aneurysm model exhibits upregulation of MT1-MMP expression and protein with subsequent increased conversion of MMP-2 from the latent to the cleaved form.

Increased MMP-9 expression and activity by aortic smooth muscle cells after nitric oxide synthase inhibition is associated with increased nuclear factor-kappaB and activator protein-1 activity.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the mechanism underlying increased expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) by rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RA-SMC) after inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). METHODS AND RESULTS: Treatment of interleukin-1beta-stimulated RA-SMC with aminoguanidine led to an increase of 96% in MMP-9 activity (P = 0.003) by gelatin zymography, a 40% increase in pro-MMP-9 protein (P = 0.018) by Western blot, and a 155% increase in MMP-9 mRNA (P = 0.06) by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Aminoguanidine also caused a 26% decrease in cytosolic IkappaB levels (P = 0.014) by Western blot, as well as a 97% increase in nuclear factor-kappaB binding and a 216% increase in activator protein-1 binding as measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. No significant changes were noted in MMP-2 or TIMP-1 expression, protein levels, or activity after aminoguanidine administration. CONCLUSIONS: MMP-9 expression and activity is increased in cytokine stimulated RA-SMCs after iNOS inhibition, coincident with activation of the nuclear factor-kappaB and activator protein-1 pathways. We speculate that local derangements in iNOS may favor MMP-9-dependent vessel wall damage in vivo via an inflammatory cascade mechanism.

A nonintrinsic regional basis for increased infrarenal aortic MMP-9 expression and activity.

OBJECTIVE: This investigation was undertaken to determine whether intrinsic or regional factors at different anatomic sites of the aorta affect expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). METHODS: Aortas from Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 22) were divided into arch, descending thoracic, and infrarenal abdominal segments. Specimens were stimulated with interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) (2 ng/mL) for 72 hours. In separate experiments, syngeneic aortic segments were transplanted from the thoracic or abdominal aortas of donor rats into the infrarenal aortic position of recipient rats (n = 12 each). At 4 weeks, aortas from rats who had received transplants were harvested, sectioned into arch, thoracic, and transplanted thoracic or transplanted abdominal segments, and stimulated with IL-1beta. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, zymography, and reverse zymography were performed to assess MMP-9, MMP-2, and TIMP-1 in all aortic segments. Differences were assessed with analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc Tukey test. RESULTS: In control rats, abdominal segments had significantly higher MMP-9 expression compared with arch and thoracic segments (P <.002). Total MMP-9 activity was also higher in abdominal segments (P <.02). In rats who received transplants, transplanted thoracic (P <.004) and transplanted abdominal (P <.05) segments demonstrated upregulation of MMP-9 expression, compared with control arch and thoracic segments. Zymography documented increased total MMP-9 activity in transplanted thoracic (P <.03) and transplanted abdominal (P <.04) segments versus arch and thoracic segments. No significant difference in MMP-9 expression was found between control abdominal, transplanted thoracic, or transplanted abdominal segments. No significant differences in MMP-2 or TIMP-1 expression or activity were demonstrated in either control or transplanted segments. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that variations in aortic MMP-9 expression and activity result from regional factors affecting the aorta rather than intrinsic aortic wall differences. Increases in abdominal aortic MMP-9 may contribute to the predilection for aneurysm to develop in the infrarenal aorta.