Cigarette smoking increases aortic dilatation without affecting matrix metalloproteinase-9 and -12 expression in a modified mouse model of aneurysm formation

Cigarette smoking is causally associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm; however, its mechanism of action remains unknown. The development of an animal model on which to study this relationship might lead to the development of therapies that could inhibit aneurysm formation in these patients.