Additional investigation in Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) –/– mice (deficient in NLRP3, caspase recruitment domains, and caspase-1) found reduced elastic lamina degradation and MMP activation in early AAA formation, further supporting a role for the NLRP3 inflammasome in aneurysmal disease [29]. The gene discussed is APOE; the disease is Vascular dilatation.