Coordination between cytoskeletal organization, cell contraction and extracellular matrix development, is depended on LOX for aneurysm prevention.

Distinct, seemingly independent, cellular pathways affecting intracellular machineries or extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and organization, have been implicated in aneurysm formation. One of the key genes associated with the pathology in both humans and mice is Lysyl oxidase (LOX), a secreted ECM-modifying enzyme, highly expressed in medial vascular smooth muscle cells. To dissect the mechanisms leading to aneurysm development, we conditionally deleted