Disruption of the aortic elastic lamina and medial calcification share genetic determinants in mice.

BACKGROUND Disruption of the elastic lamina, as an early indicator of aneurysm formation, and vascular calcification frequently occur together in atherosclerotic lesions of humans. METHODS AND RESULTS We now report evidence of shared genetic basis for disruption of the elastic lamina (medial disruption) and medial calcification in an F(2) mouse intercross between C57BL/6J and C3H/HeJ on a hyperlipidemic apolipoprotein E (ApoE(-/-)) null BACKGROUND gene, known to mediate myocardial calcification. Using transgenic complementation, we show that Abcc6 also contributes to aortic medial calcification. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate that calcification, though possibly contributory, does not always lead to medial disruption and that in addition to aneurysm formation, medial disruption may be the precursor to calcification.