Elevated Wall Tension Initiates Interleukin-6 Expression and Abdominal Aortic Dilation

An IL-6 infusion model can initiate macrophage accumulation as well as aortic dilation, and under conditions of elevated tension, this proinflammatory cytokine can be produced by aortic VSMCs. By activation of STAT3, MCP-1 is expressed to increase media macrophage abundance and create an environment susceptible to dilation. This biomechanical association between HTN and aortic dilation may allow for the identification of novel therapeutic strategies.