Inflammation-related induction of absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) in vascular cells and atherosclerotic lesions suggests a role in vascular pathogenesis

This study revealed a prominent role of the interferon-γ-inducible double-stranded DNA sensor absent in melanoma (AIM2) in vascular inflammation. Immunohistochemical analysis suggested increased AIM2 expression in smooth muscle cells of atherosclerotic carotid lesions and the vasa vasorum of abdominal aortic aneurysms. In vitro stimulation of aortic endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells by inflammatory cytokines and double-stranded DNA dramatically increased AIM2 expression, which indicates a role of AIM2 in response to inflammatory signals in these cells. These findings provide new insight on the molecular mechanisms of vascular inflammation beyond the role of AIM2 in macrophages and thus widen the range of putative prognostic and therapeutic targets in vascular pathogenesis.