The Role of Endothelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EndMT) in Aneurysm Formation.

Aneurysms represent a life-threatening disease due to their risk of rupture. Recent research points towards a role of endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in their pathophysiology. EndMT acts as a cellular program during which endothelial cells undergo phenotypic and functional transformation into cells with mesenchymal properties. EndMT is implicated in embryogenesis, tissue repair, remodeling, angiogenesis and fibrosis. The studies performed in the last decade have gained new insights in the cell signaling pathways during aneurysm development in the context of EndMT and suggested new drug targets to prevent aneurysmal growth. This review summarizes the current knowledge on EndMT in various forms of aneurysm, such as abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms, intracranial aneurysms and coronary artery aneurysm due to Kawasaki disease.