Here, we determined that HINT1 undergoes nuclear translocation as a transcription cofactor of TFAP2A, directly interacts with TFAP2A, and increases the transcriptional activity of ITGA6, resulting in the activation of the downstream FAK/STAT3 signal pathway and promoting VSMC phenotypic switching and aortic aneurysms (Supplemental Figure 13). The gene discussed is PTK2; the disease is aortic aneurysm.