fig1

Figure 1. (1) Flow-related endothelial injury; (2) triggers an inflammatory response whereby cells (macrophages) infiltrate the arterial wall and secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines and metalloproteinases; (3) the mounting inflammatory response results in proteolytic destruction of the extracellular matrix and smooth muscle cell phenotypic modulation; (4) macroscopically, the arterial wall is remodeled into an aneurysm wall with progressive aneurysmal ballooning