Smooth muscle-specific deletion of Ccn2 causes severe aorta malformation and atherosclerosis.
Jannik H LarsenJulie S HegelundMatilde K PedersenCecilie M AnderssonCaroline A LindegaardDidde R HansenJane StubbeJes S LindholtCamilla S HansenAndrietta GrentzmannMaria BloksgaardBoye L JensenRaúl R Rodriguez-DíezMarta Ruiz-OrtegaSebastian AlbinssonGerard PasterkampMichal MokryAndrew LeaskRoel GoldschmedingBartosz PileckiGrith L SorensenCharles PykeMartin OvergaardHans C BeckDaniel F J KetelhuthLars M RasmussenLasse Bach SteffensenPublished in: Cardiovascular research (2024)
This study identifies CCN2 as a major constituent of the normal artery wall, critical in regulating SMC differentiation and aorta integrity, and possessing a protective role against atherosclerosis development. These findings underscore the need for further investigation into the potential effects of anti-CCN2-based therapies on the vasculature.