Effect of blocking platelet activation with AZD6140 on development of abdominal aortic aneurysm in a rat aneurysmal model

Background: Platelet activation and thrombus renewal are keys to intraluminal thrombus formation and progression of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). This study explored the ability of AZD6140, a P2Y(12) receptor antagonist, to inhibit platelet activation and prevent aneurysm development in a rat experimental model of AAA. Method: Aortic aneurysms were induced by implanting a segment of sodium dodecyl sulfate-decellularized guinea pig aorta in rat aortas. One day later, rats were randomized to AZD6140 (10 mg/kg twice daily by mouth) or diluent (n = 23 per group) for either 10 (n = 18) or 42 days (n = 28). Adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-mediated platelet aggregation, aneurysm expansion, intraluminal thrombus formation, inflammatory infiltration, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression, and smooth muscle cell colonization were measured. Results: AZD6140 inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation in vivo for 12 hours, justifying twice-daily administration in rats. The spontaneous increase in aortic diameter shown in the aneurysmal model (2.22 +/- 0.56 mm at day 10 vs 5.21 +/- 1.22 mm at day 42) was reduced with AZD6140 (3.61 +/- 1.46 mm at day 42, P < .01). This beneficial effect was associated with a significant reduction of thrombus development, platelet CD41 expression (P < .05), and leukocyte infiltration of the mural thrombus at days 10 and 42 (P < .01). MMP-9 expression correlated with mural thrombus area and was significantly reduced by AZD6140 (P < .05). AZD6140 limited elastic fiber degradation (P < .05) and enhanced progressive colonization of the thrombus by smooth muscle cells at day 42 (P < .01). Conclusions. These data suggest that inhibition of platelet activation limits intraluminal thrombus biologic activities, thereby impairing aneurysm development. (J Vasc Surg 2009;49:719-27.)