Plasmatic and tissue assessment of inflammatory mediators, angiotensin I and II receptors, renin, angiotensin-converting enzymes, chymase and elastase-2 in patients with and without abdominal aortic aneurysm submitted to surgery at HCRP-USP

• Grant number: 22/02162-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: April 01, 2022
• End date: June 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Christiane Becari
• Grantee: Vinicius Flora Dugaich
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/21539-6 - Role of renin angiotensin system in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, AP.JP

Abstract

The incidence of and mortality from abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are high, and the existing AAA treatment is the conventional open surgery approach or endovascular repair. To date, no effective pharmacological treatment for AAA was identified, which could inhibit its growth, progression, or rupture risk in human beings. This is partially due to the lack of extensive knowledge about genetic, cellular, and humoral mechanisms involved in the AAA physiopathology. Therefore, it is extremely important to understand the physiopathology of the aneurysmal disease. We intend to analyze the participation of several enzymes from the renin-angiotensin system cascade and the inflammatory mediators in AAA. Therefore, in the Master's project, we intend to analyze clinical and demographic data from AAA and control patients admitted at HCRP-USP. We will also analyze the expression of angiotensin I and II receptors, renin, angiotensin-converting enzymes, chymase, and elastase-2, from aortas harvested from patients with and without AAA submitted to surgery at HCRP-USP. The samples of plasma and aorta without the aneurysmal disease (control group) were harvested from brain-dead patients who were sent to organ donation under family authorization. All volunteer patients or relatives, in the case of organ donors, were submitted to a clinical interview file and invited to sign the written informed consent form. The samples of blood and aneurysmal aorta harvested from AAA patients are selected from cases admitted at the Vascular and Endovascular Surgery service of the Clinics Hospital of the Medical School of Ribeirão Preto (USP). The HCRP and FMRP-USP Ethics Committee in Research approved this project (CAAE: 82879518.6.0000.5440). (AU)