Affiliations: Vascular Biology Unit, School of Medicine, James Cook
University, Townsville, Australia | Department of Surgery, University of Queensland,
Herston, Queensland, Australia | School of Surgery, University of Western Australia,
Fremantle Hospital, Fremantle, WA, Australia
Note: [] Corresponding author: Professor Jonathan Golledge, Director, The
Vascular Biology Unit, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, James Cook
University Townsville, QLD, Australia. Tel.: +61 7 4796 1417; Fax: +61 7 4796
1401; E-mail: jonathan. golledge@jcu.edu.au
Abstract: Objectives: Inflammation is critical in abdominal aortic aneurysm
(AAA) but there is no current consensus on which inflammation related cytokines
are important. The aim of this review was to systemically assess previous
studies investigating the relative expression of inflammation associated
cytokines within human AAA samples. Methods: The MEDLINE database was
searched for studies which simultaneously examined an array of different
inflammation associated cytokines in aortic samples in order to identify those
associated with AAA. Focused searches were then conducted for further studies
assessing relative concentrations of these cytokines in aortic samples in
relation to AAA. Appropriate studies were assessed by two reviewers
independently. Results: Eighteen studies were included. A number of
different cytokines have been consistently found to be upregulated within AAA
by comparison to aortic samples removed from patients without cardiovascular
disease, however findings relative to samples of aortic athero-thrombosis were
less consistent. TNFA and INFG appear to be the most consistently associated
with AAA in studies using both normal and atherosclerotic controls. Cautious
interpretation of these data is recommended due to a number of methodological
problems. Conclusions: This systematic review suggests that TNFA and INFG
are the most consistently upregulated cytokines in large AAAs. Further studies
utilizing larger populations, new proteomic techniques and better patient
matching are required.
