We also observed large decreases in the mRNAs encoding certain structural proteins after aneurysm induction, particularly in mice lacking FXIII-A and note that Kothapalli et al50 observed decreases of similar magnitude in collagen and elastin expression in cells explanted from CaCl2-induced rat aortic aneurysms, although presumably these cells expressed FXIII-A. This evidence concerns the gene ELN and aneurysm.