Subcellular pathways shared by afflicted patients and mutant mice identify a new drug treatment for aortic aneurysm in Marfan syndrome

We analyzed differentially expressed genes in smooth muscle cells derived from the thoracic aorta of Marfan Syndrome (MFS) patients and control subjects to identify cell biological mechanisms contributing to thoracic aoritc aneurysm (TAA) development and rupture. These mechanisms were used to identify a potential drug treatment to mitigate TAA progression. We analyzed differentially expressed genes in whole aorta of P16 MFS mice vs WT mice to identify cell biological mechanisms contributing to thoracic aoritc aneurysm (TAA) development and rupture. These mechanisms were used to identify baclofen as a potential drug treatment to mitigate TAA progression. The effect of baclofen on gene expression in WT and MFS was documented in P60 mice that received treatment since P16. Identification of differentially expressed genes in smooth muslce cells derived from the aorta of Marfan Syndrome patients. Identification of differentially expressed genes in thoracic aortic wall of MFS vs WT mice and of baclofen treated MFS/WT mice vs untreated MFS WT mice.