Immunohistochemical expression of iNOS and matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 in aortic aneurysms

Aortic aneurysms (AA) is a degenerative vascular disease characterized by localized dilatation of the aortic wall as a result of altered matrix composition (elastin and collagen degradation). Howewer the pathogenesis of the changes is elusive and unclear. Some experimental evidences suggest that iNOS (who synthesize a large amount of NO in inflammatory processes) and the metalloproteinases (MMP) are implicated in the pathogenesis of AA but the relationship between NO and MMP to aneurismal disease is currently unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of iNOS and MMP2 and MMP9 in human aneurysmal tissues.