Familial thoracic aortic aneurysms

MFAP5 variant-induced multiple giant thoracic aortic aneurysm

Heritable thoracic aortic aneurysms are complex conditions characterised by the dilation or rupture of the thoracic aorta, often occurring as an autosomal-dominant disorder associated with life-threatening complications. In this case report, we present a de novo variant, MFAP5 c.236_237insA (p.N79Kfs9), which is implicated in the development of inherited thoracic aortic aneurysm. The proband, a 15-year-old male, presented with recurrent cough, dull chest pain, chest distress, vomiting, and reduced activity tolerance, leading to the diagnosis of heritable thoracic aortic aneurysms. Whole-exome sequencing identified a novel heterozygous variant in MFAP5 (NM_003480, c.236_237insA, and p.N79Kfs9). MutationTester and PolyPhen-s predicted this variant to be damaging and disease-causing (probability = 1), while the SFIT score indicated protein damage (0.001). Structural analysis using the AlphaFold Protein structure database revealed that this mutation disrupted the N-linked glycosylation site, resulting in a frameshift, amino acid sequence alteration, and truncation of an essential protein site. To our knowledge, this is the first case report describing a young patient with heritable thoracic aortic aneurysm carrying the novel MFAP5 c.236_237insA (p.N79Kfs*9) variant. This variant represents the third identified mutation site associated with heritable thoracic aortic aneurysm. Given the high mortality and morbidity rates associated with thoracic aortic aneurysms, the prevention of severe and fatal complications is crucial in the clinical management of this condition. Our case highlights the importance of whole-exome sequencing and genetic screening in identifying potential pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants, particularly in early-onset patients with aortic dilation, to inform appropriate management strategies.

Thoracic Aorta: Anatomy and Pathology

The aorta is the largest elastic artery in the human body and is classically divided into two anatomical segments, the thoracic and the abdominal aorta, separated by the diaphragm. The thoracic aorta includes the aortic root, the ascending aorta, the arch, and the descending aorta. The aorta's elastic properties depend on its wall structure, composed of three distinct histologic layers: intima, media, and adventitia. The different aortic segments show different embryological and anatomical features, which account for their different physiological properties and impact the occurrence and natural history of congenital and acquired diseases that develop herein. Diseases of the thoracic aorta may present either as a chronic, often asymptomatic disorder or as acute life-threatening conditions, i.e., acute aortic syndromes, and are usually associated with states that increase wall stress and alter the structure of the aortic wall. This review aims to provide an update on the disease of the thoracic aorta, focusing on the morphological substrates and clinicopathological correlations. Information on anatomy and embryology will also be provided.

Spatially Distinct Genetic Determinants of Aortic Dimensions Influence Risks of Aneurysm and Stenosis

BACKGROUND

The left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) and ascending aorta are spatially complex, with distinct pathologies and embryologic origins. Prior work examined the genetics of thoracic aortic diameter in a single plane.

OBJECTIVES

We sought to elucidate the genetic basis for the diameter of the LVOT, aortic root, and ascending aorta.

METHODS

Using deep learning, we analyzed 2.3 million cardiac magnetic resonance images from 43,317 UK Biobank participants. We computed the diameters of the LVOT, the aortic root, and at 6 locations of ascending aorta. For each diameter, we conducted a genome-wide association study and generated a polygenic score. Finally, we investigated associations between these scores and disease incidence.

RESULTS

A total of 79 loci were significantly associated with at least 1 diameter. Of these, 35 were novel, and most were associated with 1 or 2 diameters. A polygenic score of aortic diameter approximately 13 mm from the sinotubular junction most strongly predicted thoracic aortic aneurysm (n = 427,016; mean HR: 1.42 per SD; 95% CI: 1.34-1.50; P = 6.67 × 10-21). A polygenic score predicting a smaller aortic root was predictive of aortic stenosis (n = 426,502; mean HR: 1.08 per SD; 95% CI: 1.03-1.12; P = 5 × 10-6).

CONCLUSIONS

We detected distinct genetic loci underpinning the diameters of the LVOT, aortic root, and at several segments of ascending aorta. We spatially defined a region of aorta whose genetics may be most relevant to predicting thoracic aortic aneurysm. We further described a genetic signature that may predispose to aortic stenosis. Understanding genetic contributions to proximal aortic diameter may enable identification of individuals at risk for aortic disease and facilitate prioritization of therapeutic targets.

Deep learning enables genetic analysis of the human thoracic aorta

Enlargement or aneurysm of the aorta predisposes to dissection, an important cause of sudden death. We trained a deep learning model to evaluate the dimensions of the ascending and descending thoracic aorta in 4.6 million cardiac magnetic resonance images from the UK Biobank. We then conducted genome-wide association studies in 39,688 individuals, identifying 82 loci associated with ascending and 47 with descending thoracic aortic diameter, of which 14 loci overlapped. Transcriptome-wide analyses, rare-variant burden tests and human aortic single nucleus RNA sequencing prioritized genes including SVIL, which was strongly associated with descending aortic diameter. A polygenic score for ascending aortic diameter was associated with thoracic aortic aneurysm in 385,621 UK Biobank participants (hazard ratio = 1.43 per s.d., confidence interval 1.32-1.54, P = 3.3 × 10-20). Our results illustrate the potential for rapidly defining quantitative traits with deep learning, an approach that can be broadly applied to biomedical images.

Molecular Pathogenesis and the Possible Role of Mitochondrial Heteroplasmy in Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm

Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is a life-threatening condition associated with high mortality, in which the aortic wall is deformed due to congenital or age-associated pathological changes. The mechanisms of TAA development remain to be studied in detail, and are the subject of active research. In this review, we describe the morphological changes of the aortic wall in TAA. We outline the genetic disorders associated with aortic enlargement and discuss the potential role of mitochondrial pathology, in particular mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy, in the disease pathogenesis.

Pathology of the Aorta and Aorta as Homograft

The aorta is not a rigid tube, it is an “organ” with lamellar units, consisting of elastic fibers, extracellular matrix and smooth muscle cells in between as parenchyma. Several diseases may occur in the natural history of the aorta, requiring replacement of both semilunar cusps and ascending aorta. They may be congenital defects, such as bicuspid aortic valve and isthmal coarctation with aortopathy; genetically determined, such as Marfan and William syndromes; degenerative diseases, such as atherosclerosis and medial necrosis with aortic dilatation, valve incompetence and dissecting aneurysm; inflammatory diseases such as Takayasu arteritis, syphilis, giant cell and IgM4 aortitis; neoplasms; and trauma. Aortic homografts from cadavers, including both the sinus portion with semilunar cusps and the tubular portion, are surgically employed to replace a native sick ascending aorta. However, the antigenicity of allograft cells, in the lamellar units and interstitial cells in the cusps, is maintained. Thus, an immune reaction may occur, limiting durability. After proper decellularization and 6 months’ implantation in sheep, endogenous cell repopulation was shown to occur in both the valve and aortic wall, including the endothelium, without evidence of inflammation and structural deterioration/calcification in the mid-term. The allograft was transformed into an autograft.

Identification of novel splice mutation in SMAD3 in two Cypriot families with nonsyndromic thoracic aortic aneurysm. Two case reports

BACKGROUND

Thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAA/D) represents a potentially lethal disease group characterized by an increased risk of dissection or rupture. Only a small percentage (approximately 30%) of individuals with nonsyndromic familial TAA/D have a pathogenic variant in one of the genes that have been found to be associated with the disease.

METHODS

A targeted sequencing panel and direct sequencing approach were used to identify causative mutations in the index patients and other family members.

RESULTS

In this study we report two apparently unrelated Cypriot families with nonsyndromic familial TAA/D. The proband A is a female patient diagnosed with TAA/D and intracranial aneurysm and opted for an elective intervention. The proband B is a male patient who was diagnosed with TAA/D and underwent cardiac surgery. Sequencing analysis identified a novel splice site variant (c.871+1G>A) in SMAD3 which is shown to be associated with the disease. Analysis of mRNA from the patient's tissue confirmed aberrant splicing and exon 6 skipping.

CONCLUSION

Our findings expand the mutation spectrum of variants that have been shown to be associated with nonsyndromic familial TAA/D. This study demonstrates the importance of a comprehensive clinical and genetic evaluation aiming at early diagnosis and intervention.

Novel variants in the ACTA2 and MYH11 genes in a Cypriot family with thoracic aortic aneurysms: a case report

BACKGROUND

Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) and/or thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD) is characterized by a considerable risk of morbidity and mortality of affected individuals. It is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern and the 20% of patients with non-syndromic TAA have a positive family history. To date, the genetic basis of Cypriot patients with TAA has not been investigated. The purpose of this case report is to determine underlying genetic cause in this Cypriot family with TAA.

CASE PRESENTATION

In this report we present a patient with hyper-acute onset chest and back pain diagnosed with Type A Aortic Dissection with severe aortic valve regurgitation, who underwent emergency aortic surgery and Bentall procedure. Further investigation of the patient's family was undertaken where both parents and an additional child were also found to be affected. A targeted sequencing panel including genes with known association to TAA was used to identify causative mutations in the index patient. Massively Parallel Sequencing results identified a frameshift deletion c.363_367del GAGTC, p.Met121Ilefs*5 in the ACTA2 gene and a non-synonymous variant c.3234C > G, p.Ile1078Met in the MYH11 gene. The presence or absence of these variants in the index patient and other family members was verified by Sanger sequencing. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a Cypriot family case diagnosed with TAA presented by two novel variants one in the ACTA2 and the other in the MYH11 genes.

CONCLUSIONS

We describe two novel variants in a Cypriot family with TAA that are potentially pathogenic, highlighting the importance of molecular genetic evaluation in families with TAA. These results may prove useful for screening purposes in Cypriot patients with non-syndromic familial TAA facilitating early identification of atrisk family members and direct intervention.

Interleukin-3 is required for thoracic aneurysm and dissection in a mouse model

The pathogenesis of thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD) is complex and incompletely understood. The hallmarks of the disease process are aortic inflammatory cell infiltration and protease mediated elastic fiber disruption. In a study recently published in Clinical Science (2018) 132 (6), 655–668), Liu et al. explore the mechanism through which aortic vascular smooth cells and macrophages participate in TAAD using a mouse model. The authors propose that interleukin-3 (IL-3) released from aortic vascular smooth cells is central to the disease process. IL-3 stimulated matrix metalloproteinase 12 (MMP12) release from macrophages via mitogen activated protein kinase pathways. MMP12 is a protease known to be involved in both aortic aneurysm and dissection. IL-3 knockout mice had significantly reduced aortic wall MMP12, and reduced protease activity. This was associated with protection against TAAD.

How can genetic diagnosis inform the decision of when to operate?

Genetic discovery for heritable thoracic aortic disease (HTAD) has been progressing at a brisk pace. Surgical management of thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections has become more personalized, with genetic factors increasingly informing the decision of when to operate on patients. An improved understanding of genotype-phenotype correlations in patients with HTAD will ultimately lead to gene- and mutation-specific recommendations for surgical repair. Until more robust data from larger cohorts can inform our decisions, patients with HTAD should be seen by an aortic specialist for a tailored approach to elective surgical repair.

An HDAC9-MALAT1-BRG1 complex mediates smooth muscle dysfunction in thoracic aortic aneurysm

Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) has been associated with mutations affecting members of the TGF-β signaling pathway, or components and regulators of the vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) actomyosin cytoskeleton. Although both clinical groups present similar phenotypes, the existence of potential common mechanisms of pathogenesis remain obscure. Here we show that mutations affecting TGF-β signaling and VSMC cytoskeleton both lead to the formation of a ternary complex comprising the histone deacetylase HDAC9, the chromatin-remodeling enzyme BRG1, and the long noncoding RNA MALAT1. The HDAC9–MALAT1–BRG1 complex binds chromatin and represses contractile protein gene expression in association with gain of histone H3-lysine 27 trimethylation modifications. Disruption of Malat1 or Hdac9 restores contractile protein expression, improves aortic mural architecture, and inhibits experimental aneurysm growth. Thus, we highlight a shared epigenetic pathway responsible for VSMC dysfunction in both forms of TAA, with potential therapeutic implication for other known HDAC9-associated vascular diseases.

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) dysfunction is a common feature of thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs). Here, Lino Cardenas and colleagues show that the formation of a HDAC9-MALAT1-BRG1 complex promotes VSMC dysfunction in TAA by epigenetically altering the expression of key components of the cytoskeleton in VSMCs.

Genetic Disorders of the Thoracic Aorta and Indications for Surgery

Genetic disorders of the aorta are rare but can lead to life-threatening thoracic aortic aneurysms. Although the genetic causes of many of these connective tissue diseases are well defined, others such as familial thoracic aortic aneurysm and bicuspid aortic valve aortopathy are not. The natural history of genetic thoracic aortic aneurysms is not well understood or predictable, and surgical guidelines for treatment remain imprecise. Future research should strive to provide in-depth and detailed genetic profiling to drive clinical management, including medical and surgical therapies.

Identification of a missense mutation of COL3A1 in a Chinese family with atypical Ehlers-Danlos syndrome using targeted next-generation sequencing

Aortopathy represents an important cause of mortality in industrialized countries, with a number of genes identified as predispose factors. It can be difficult to identify the genetic lesions underlying this disorder, particularly when the phenotype is atypical. The present study performed targeted next-generation sequencing of 428 genes associated with cardiovascular diseases in a family with aortopathy, the proband of which presented with abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture only, with tissue fragility noted in surgery. After targeted capture, sequencing and bioinformatics analysis, a missense mutation, p.A1259T, was identified in the collagen type III α1 (COL3A1) gene and co-segregated with the disease in the family. Crystal structure modeling revealed abnormal hydrogen bonds generated by the mutation, which likely affected the spatial structure of the procollagen C-propeptide. Mutations in the procollagen C-propeptide are rare and genotype-phenotype correlation may explain the atypical manifestations of affected individuals. The results of the present study suggested that targeted gene capture combined with next-generation sequencing can serve as a useful technique in the genetic diagnosis of aortopathy, particularly in the content of an atypical phenotype.

Role of Microvascular Tone and Extracellular Matrix Contraction in the Regulation of Interstitial Fluid: Implications for Aortic Dissection

The pathophysiology of aortic dissection is poorly understood, and its risk is resistant to medical treatment. Most studies have focused on a proposed pathogenic role of transforming growth factor-β in Marfan disease and related thoracic aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections. However, clinical testing of this concept using angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonists to block transforming growth factor-β signaling fell short of promise. Genetic mutations that predispose to thoracic aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections affect components of the extracellular matrix and proteins involved in cellular force generation. Thus, a role for dysfunctional mechanosensing in abnormal aortic wall remodeling is emerging. However, how abnormal mechanosensing leads to aortic dissection remains a mystery. Here, we review current knowledge about the regulation of interstitial fluid dynamics and myogenic tone and propose that alteration in contractile force reduces vascular tone in the microcirculation (here, aortic vasa vasorum) and leads to elevations of blood flow, transmural pressure, and fluid flux into the surrounding aortic media. Furthermore, reduced contractile force in medial smooth muscle cells coupled with alteration of structural components of the extracellular matrix limits extracellular matrix contraction, further promoting the formation of intramural edema, a critical step in the initiation of aortic dissection. The concept is supported by several pathophysiological and clinical observations. A direct implication of this concept is that drugs that lower blood pressure and limit interstitial fluid accumulation while preserving or increasing microvascular tone would limit the risk of dissection. In contrast, drugs that substantially lower microvascular tone would be ineffective or may accelerate the disease and precipitate aortic dissection.

Vascular diseases: aortitis, aortic aneurysms, and vascular calcification

Inflammatory diseases of the aorta broadly include noninfectious and infectious aortitis, periaortitis, atherosclerosis, and inflammatory atherosclerotic aneurysms. Aortitis is uncommon but is increasingly recognized as an important cause of aortic aneurysms and dissections. Abdominal (AAA) and thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) have different pathologies and etiologies. AAAs are the most common type of aortic aneurysm, and the vast majority of these are atherosclerotic. The causes of TAA vary depending on the site of involvement, but medial degeneration is a common pathologic substrate, regardless of etiology, and genetic influences play a prominent role in TAA expression. Standardized classification schemes for inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the aorta have only recently been added to the pathology literature. A brief overview of the new histopathologic classifications for aortic inflammatory and degenerative diseases has recently been published by the Society for Cardiovascular Pathology and the Association for European Cardiovascular Pathology as a consensus document on the surgical pathology of the aorta. Vascular calcification is a highly regulated biologic process, and the mechanisms leading to vascular calcification are under investigation. Calcification may occur in the intima (atherosclerotic) or in the media secondary to metabolic disease. Rarely, vascular calcification may be associated with genetic disorders.

Clinically relevant variants identified in thoracic aortic aneurysm patients by research exome sequencing

Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is a genetically heterogeneous disease involving subclinical and progressive dilation of the thoracic aorta, which can lead to life-threatening complications such as dissection or rupture. Genetic testing is important for risk stratification and identification of at risk family members, and clinically available genetic testing panels have been expanding rapidly. However, when past testing results are normal, there is little evidence to guide decision-making about the indications and timing to pursue additional clinical genetic testing. Results from research based genetic testing can help inform this process. Here we present 10 TAA patients who have a family history of disease and who enrolled in research-based exome testing. Nine of these ten patients had previous clinical genetic testing that did not identify the cause of disease. We sought to determine the number of rare variants in 23 known TAA associated genes identified by research-based exome testing. In total, we found 10 rare variants in six patients. Likely pathogenic variants included a TGFB2 variant in one patient and a SMAD3 variant in another. These variants have been reported previously in individuals with similar phenotypes. Variants of uncertain significance of particular interest included novel variants in MYLK and MFAP5, which were identified in a third patient. In total, clinically reportable rare variants were found in 6/10 (60%) patients, with at least 2/10 (20%) patients having likely pathogenic variants identified. These data indicate that consideration of re-testing is important in TAA patients with previous negative or inconclusive results.