BCL2 and triple-A syndrome: One such gene is Bcl2, which is known to inhibit VSMC apoptosis during AAA formation.49 Because reduced VSMC apoptosis triggered by Ang II was observed in aortas from MAPK14 KO mice (Fig. 1g–i), we asked whether VSMC-MAPK14 influences Bcl2 gene expression and thus apoptosis.