Abstract
Introduction: Abdominal aortic aneurysms and dissections (AAA/AD) are vascular disorders with high mortality due to aortic ruptures. Critical pathomechanisms involve immune cell infiltration and degradation of the vascular extracellular matrix (ECM). Hyaluronan (HA), a major constituent of the ECM synthesized by three HA synthase isoenzymes (HAS1-3), plays a role in both processes. Specifically, HAS3 is crucially involved in inflammatory conditions. Here, we aimed to elucidate the role of HAS3-derived HA in AAA/AD. Methods: Mice double-deficient for apolipoprotein E and Has3 (Apoe/Has3-DKO) and littermate controls (Apoe-KO) were studied in a model of angiotensin II (AngII)-induced AAA/AD. Results: Has3 deficiency improved survival in Apoe/Has3-DKO mice via reducing aortic ruptures. This was associated with decreased monocyte infiltration into the vessel wall. Aortic RNA-Seq analysis indicated disturbed immune cell adhesion and diapedesis. Transfer of Apoe-deficient bone marrow into Apoe/Has3-DKO mice largely normalized the Apoe/Has3-DKO phenotype. While gene expression in endothelial cells (ECs) was not affected, AngII-induced upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines, adhesion receptors and the HA receptor CD44 was attenuated in Apoe/Has3-DKO monocytes. This reduced CD44 cell surface expression in Apoe/Has3-double-deficient monocytes, ultimately inhibiting their in vitro transmigration. Discussion: Our results show that HAS3 plays a key role in AAA/AD formation and suggest the HAS3/CD44 axis as promising therapeutic target to reduce monocyte recruitment and aortic rupture.