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Interaction of the activating sequence in thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) with the conserved sequence (leucine-serine-lysine-leucine [LSKL]) in the latency-associated peptide region of latent transforming growth factor (TGF)-β complex is important in regulating TGF-β1 activity. We aimed to assess the effect of blocking peptide LSKL on the progression of pre-established abdominal aortic aneurysm in angiotensin II–infused apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE^−/−) mice.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm was established in 3-month-old male ApoE^−/− mice with subcutaneous infusion of angiotensin II for 28 days. After this, mice received LSKL peptide or control SLLK (serine–leucine–leucine–lysine) peptide (4 mg/kg) via daily intraperitoneal injection for an additional 2 weeks. Administration of LSKL peptide promoted larger suprarenal aortic diameter, as determined by ultrasound and morphometric …