Consistent with these observations, RT-PCR analysis demonstrated increased expression of SMC contractile markers ACTA2, TAGLN, MYH11, MYOCD and CNN1, but decreased expression of SMC synthetic markers KLF4, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in AAA lesions from colchicine-treated mice (Fig. 3G), although there were no differences in the expression of genes responsible for neutrophil adhesion (e.g. P-selectin and L-selectin) (Fig. S6). The gene discussed is MYOCD; the disease is triple-A syndrome.