Radial artery calcification in end-stage renal disease patients is associated with deposition of osteopontin and diminished expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin.
OBJECTIVE
Vascular access is the lifeline of haemodialysis patients and radial-cephalic fistula is the preferred type of access. We investigated vascular calcification in uraemia radial arteries and compared it with clinical parameters.


METHODS
Artery specimens from 30 end-stage renal disease patients were collected, examined calcification by von Kossa and Alizarin red staining. Expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and the main component of bone matrix, osteopontin (OP) were detected by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
In uraemia vessels, calcification was mainly located in the medial layer. Nineteen (63.33%) patients had no evidence of calcification, six (20%) had mild/moderate calcification and five (16.66%) had severe calcification. Upregulation of OP and diminished expression of alpha-SMA occurred in the medial layer, especially in the area of severe calcification. The calcification score, decreased expression of alpha-SMA and upregulation of OP were positively correlated with older age, serum calcium, serum phosphorus and calcium x phosphorus product (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Vascular calcification in uraemia radial arteries is mainly located in the media layer. The risk factors appear to be older age, an elevated serum level of phosphorus, calcium and calcium x phosphorus product.
Wang
Ningning
N
Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
Yang
Junwei
J
Yu
Xiangbao
X
Hu
Jianming
J
Xing
Changying
C
Ju
Xiaobing
X
Shen
Xia
X
Qian
Jun
J
Zhao
Xiufen
X
Wang
Xiaoyun
X
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000378:metabolism; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000378:metabolism*; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000473:pathology*
D000199:Actins; D053495:Osteopontin