Thrombospondin-1 as a potential therapeutic target for Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms

(University of Tsukuba) Researchers centered at the University of Tsukuba and Kansai Medical University in Japan reveal matricellular protein Thrombospondin-1 (Thbs1) contributes to the development of aortic aneurysm in mice and humans.This study reveals that Thbs1 is not only a critical component of mechanotransduction, but also a modulator of elastic fiber organization and actin cytoskeletal remodeling. Thbs1 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for treating TAAs.