Differential Expression of Bone Matrix Regulatory Proteins in Human Atherosclerotic Plaques
Top Cited Papers
Open Access
- 1 December 2001
- journal article
- other
- Published by Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology
- Vol. 21 (12), 1998-2003
- https://doi.org/10.1161/hq1201.100229
Abstract
In the present study, we examined the expression of regulators of bone formation and osteoclastogenesis in human atherosclerosis because accumulating evidence suggests that atherosclerotic calcification shares features with bone calcification. The most striking finding of this study was the constitutive immunoreactivity of matrix Gla protein, osteocalcin, and bone sialoprotein in nondiseased aortas and the absence of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2, BMP-4, osteopontin, and osteonectin in nondiseased aortas and early atherosclerotic lesions. When atherosclerotic plaques demonstrated calcification or bone formation, BMP-2, BMP-4, osteopontin, and osteonectin were upregulated. Interestingly, this upregulation was associated with a sustained immunoreactivity of matrix Gla protein, osteocalcin, and bone sialoprotein. The 2 modulators of osteoclastogenesis (osteoprotegerin [OPG] and its ligand, OPGL) were present in the nondiseased vessel wall and in early atherosclerotic lesions. In advanced calcified lesions, OPG was present in bone structures, whereas OPGL was only present in the extracellular matrix surrounding calcium deposits. The observed expression patterns suggest a tight regulation of the expression of bone matrix regulatory proteins during human atherogenesis. The expression pattern of both OPG and OPGL during atherogenesis might suggest a regulatory role of these proteins not only in osteoclastogenesis but also in atherosclerotic calcification.Keywords
This publication has 35 references indexed in Scilit:
- Vascular calcification—a passive process in need of inhibitorsNephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 2000
- Osteoprotegerin Ligand Regulates Osteoclast Adherence to the Bone Surface in Mouse CalvariaBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2000
- Analysis of the α4β1 Integrin–Osteopontin InteractionExperimental Cell Research, 2000
- Bone SialoproteinCritical Reviews in Oral Biology & Medicine, 1999
- Altered wound healing in mice lacking a functional osteopontin gene (spp1).JCI Insight, 1998
- Spontaneous calcification of arteries and cartilage in mice lacking matrix GLA proteinNature, 1997
- Vitamin K intake and osteocalcin levels in women with and without aortic atherosclerosis: a population-based studyAtherosclerosis, 1995
- Efficacy and safety ofdigoxin alone and in combination with low-dosediltiazem orbetaxolol to control ventricular rate in chronic atrial fibrillationThe American Journal of Cardiology, 1995
- High expression of genes for calcification-regulating proteins in human atherosclerotic plaques.JCI Insight, 1994
- Mechanism of calcification in atherosclerosisTrends in Cardiovascular Medicine, 1994