IL-33 in murine abdominal aortic aneurysm: a novel inflammatory mediator awaiting clinical translation

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) affects approximately 5% of the high-risk general population consisting of men between the ages of 60–75 (1). Histopathologically, AAA are characterized by degradation of the extracellular matrix (particularly elastin), medial smooth muscle cell (SMC) depletion or apoptosis, and inflammation (2,3). Very little is known about risk factors for AAA expansion, once an aneurysm has been detected.