title: Elastin calcification in the rat subdermal model is accompanied by up-regulation of degradative and osteogenic cellular responses.
abstract: Calcification of vascular elastin occurs in patients with arteriosclerosis, renal failure, diabetes, and vascular graft implants. We hypothesized that pathological elastin calcification is related to degenerative and osteogenic mechanisms. To test this hypothesis, the temporal expression of genes and proteins associated with elastin degradation and osteogenesis was examined in the rat subdermal calcification model by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and specific protein assays. Purified elastin implanted subdermally in juvenile rats exhibited progressive calcification in a time-dependent manner along with fibroblast and macrophage infiltration. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that relative gene expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and transforming growth factor-beta1 were increased in parallel with calcification. Gelatin zymography showed strong MMP activities at early time points, which were associated with high levels of soluble elastin peptides. Gene expression of core binding factor alpha-1, an osteoblast-specific transcription factor, increased in parallel with elastin calcification and attained approximately 9.5-fold higher expression at 21 days compared to 3 days after implantation. Similarly, mRNA levels of the bone markers osteopontin and alkaline phosphatase also increased progressively, but osteocalcin levels remained unchanged. We conclude that degenerative and osteogenic processes may be involved in elastin calcification.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Implant Research Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, 501 Rhodes Engineering Research Center, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA.
authors.forename: Jeoung Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dina M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Basalyga
authors.forename: Agneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simionescu
authors.forename: Jason C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Isenburg
authors.forename: Dan T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Simionescu
authors.forename: Narendra R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Vyavahare
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology*; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004549:Elastin / Q000378:metabolism*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010012:Osteogenesis; D053495:Osteopontin; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; C506897:Spp1 protein, rat; C508962:Tgfb1 protein, rat; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D053495:Osteopontin; D004549:Elastin; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9