TGF-β is essential for vascular development; however, excess TGF-β signaling promotes thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection in multiple disorders, including Marfan syndrome. Since the pathology of TGF-β overactivity manifests primarily within the arterial media, it is widely assumed that suppression of TGF-β signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells will ameliorate aortic disease. We tested this hypothesis by conditional inactivation of
Wei Li, Qingle Li, Yang Jiao, Lingfeng Qin, Rahmat Ali, Jing Zhou, Jacopo Ferruzzi, Richard W. Kim, Arnar Geirsson, Harry C. Dietz, Stefan Offermanns, Jay D. Humphrey, George Tellides
Schematic representation of the essential role for TGF-β in postnatal aortic wall homeostasis.