血管平滑肌细胞在血管钙化中的调控机制研究进展

血管钙化普遍存在于衰老、动脉粥样硬化、慢性肾脏病、糖尿病等病理过程中,是全因死亡和心血管事件的危险因素。近期研究表明,血管钙化是一个主动的高度调控的过程。血管平滑肌细胞(VSMCs)向成骨细胞表型分化和分泌细胞外囊泡作为磷酸钙沉积位点在血管钙化中起着至关重要的作用。表观遗传、氧化应激和内质网应激、炎症、细胞衰老、自噬、钙化抑制剂、钙磷代谢等一系列因素调控VSMCs的钙化。本文主要综述了VSMCs在血管钙化中的调控机制。     

程序性细胞死亡与血管钙化关系的研究进展

血管钙化是多种疾病的并发症之一,并参与疾病的发生发展。而血管平滑肌细胞死亡是钙化过程中的必然伴随现象。已有研究证明血管平滑肌细胞的凋亡明确参加血管钙化的发生,而对于另一种程序性细胞死亡方式——自噬是否参与血管平滑肌细胞钙化研究近年来也有报道。本文就当今凋亡和自噬两种常见细胞程序性死亡参与血管平滑肌钙化的作用及可能机制以及影响因素的研究进展作一综述。     

自噬与血管衰老的研究进展

<正>自噬是由细胞质起源的自噬体与溶酶体融合降解胞内异常分子和长寿命蛋白的过程,是一种特殊分解代谢途径。它在细胞代谢、存活与分化等方面都具有重要作用。当前社会正朝向老龄化社会演变,关注老龄化相关疾病的研究显得格外重要。随着细胞生物科学与老年医学的相互交叉发展,自噬在老年性心血管疾病、神经退行性疾病、脏器衰老等方面的研究中取得进展。研究已发现通过对自噬调控能够对血管组成细胞的增殖、分化和转归起到重要的调控作用。本文对自噬与血管     

MicroRNAs在血管钙化中的作用

血管的钙化在冠心病患者是非常常见的,许多研究证实microRNAs(miRs)是血管钙化过程中一类重要的调节因子。人们对miRs的研究已取得一定进展,发现它可以通过调控平滑肌细胞的转分化、调节钙磷稳态、下调平滑肌细胞收缩表型等来引起血管钙化的发生。本文对miRs在血管钙化中所起的作用做一综述。     

microRNA调节血管钙化的研究进展

血管钙化与心血管疾病死亡风险的增加有着密切联系,然而在患有冠状动脉疾病(CAD)的患者中血管钙化却非常普遍。血管钙化的发病机制类似于骨发育和软骨形成的过程。血管平滑肌细胞转分化为成骨样细胞、钙磷调节失衡、破骨细胞活性和矿物质吸收能力的降低,在促进血管钙化过程中有着重要的作用。目前发现微小RNA(microRNA)通过引导血管平滑肌细胞进行复杂遗传基因重编码以及与血管钙化相关的其他细胞功能反应参与血管钙化的过程。文章将详细介绍关于microRNA介导血管钙化的重要调节作用。     

关注血管钙化的起源、演进与转归研究

血管钙化是动脉壁间叶细胞尤其是平滑肌细胞在各种病理因素作用下转分化为成骨成软骨细胞表型,介导钙盐异常沉积在血管壁的过程,包括内膜钙化、中膜钙化及瓣膜钙化等多种病理类型。随着我国老龄化趋势的不断加剧,尤其是糖尿病、动脉粥样硬化及慢性肾脏病等的患病率持续走高,由其衍生的血管钙化正在逐渐演变为影响我国人民健康的一个关键疾病谱。为此,本文从血管钙化的起源、演进及转归,尤其是转归过程中的骨与血管、主动与被动、内膜钙化与中膜钙化、微钙化与大钙化以及自噬、内质网应激和非编码RNA等争议和热点问题入手,进行了系统阐述,希冀通过本文和专栏内多位专家以及一直奋战在钙化领域内广大同道的共同努力,一起推动血管钙化基础与临床研究的前行。     

血管钙化分子机制研究进展

血管钙化是衰老、动脉粥样硬化、糖尿病、慢性肾病等疾病中的普遍病理现象,并增加心血管疾病的发病率和死亡率。随着血管钙化研究的增多,人们对血管钙化的认知也越来越深入。本文主要从血管平滑肌细胞的成骨型分化、钙化抑制剂的缺失、钙或磷酸盐稳态异常、氧化应激、炎症、细胞凋亡、自噬、基质重塑、miRNA调控等方面介绍血管钙化的分子机制研究的最新进展。本专栏几个课题组分别对活化T细胞核因子c1在糖尿病血管钙化进展中的作用研究、中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比值与透析患者冠状动脉钙化关系以及霍山石斛对高脂诱导的LDLR基因敲除小鼠动脉粥样硬化和血管钙化的影响进行了较深入的研究。     

外泌体介导血管平滑肌细胞钙化的研究进展

外泌体(exosome)是由细胞内分泌到细胞外的纳米级别的基质囊泡,具有磷脂双分子层结构,内含多种细胞特异的脂质、核酸及蛋白质等,主要参与细胞间通讯、免疫调节以及细胞信号通路调节等过程。近年来,研究发现外泌体在血管平滑肌细胞钙化的发生、发展过程中发挥着重要作用。了解外泌体调节血管平滑肌细胞钙化的机制,对未来临床预防血管平滑肌细胞钙化及降低心血管疾病发生风险有重要作用。     

血管平滑肌细胞增殖在动脉粥样硬化中的研究进展

心血管疾病是全人类死亡的主要原因之一,来源于中动脉层的血管平滑肌细胞(vascular smooth muscle cells,VSMCs)增殖是形成动脉粥样硬化斑块的核心机制之一。在动脉粥样硬化形成过程中,VSMCs经历了复杂的结构和功能变化,产生不同的表型促进VSMCs的增殖[1]。VSMCs动态调节表型后增殖的能力促使其在控制血压、血液分布以及维持血管结构完整性方面发挥着重要作用,参与生理和病理性血管重塑。VSMCs增殖的调控过程极为复杂,包含多种调控分子和信号途径的共同作用,因此详细了解VSMCs的特征及其增殖过程对研究用于血管治疗的新药物至关重要。本文就VSMCs增殖在动脉粥样硬化中的研究进展及当前药物研究情况做一综述。     

血管平滑肌细胞自噬与糖尿病动脉粥样硬化关系的研究进展

动脉粥样硬化是心血管疾病的常见病理表现。糖尿病与动脉粥样硬化发生密切相关,高血糖可通过多种机制导致动脉粥样硬化的发生。自噬是生物进化过程中高度保守的,与生长、发育、衰老、疾病状态等密切相关的生理活动,与动脉粥样硬化等多种心、脑血管疾病的发生、发展密切相关。血管平滑肌细胞自噬在动脉粥样硬化不同阶段起着不同的作用,探究血管平滑肌细胞自噬与糖尿病动脉粥样硬化的关系有望为糖尿病动脉粥样硬化的治疗提供新的方向。     

Inhibitory effects of bisphosphonate on vascular calcification

Recently, it has been hypothesized that vascular calcification is an actively regulated process in which vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) acquire osteoblast-like functions. Bisphosphonates prevent in vitro calcification of VSMCs and probably inhibit phosphate transport by sodium dependent phosphate transporter which plays a key role in VSMCs calcification. The effects of bisphosphonate on VSMCs have important implications for the future management of patients with vascular calcification.     

Pathophysiology of vascular calcification: Pivotal role of cellular senescence in vascular smooth muscle cells

The accumulation of senescent cells within tissues can potentially lead to biological dysfunction and manifestation of disease associated with ageing. The majority of senescent cells display a commonly altered secretome similar to a wound healing response (termed the senescence-associated secretory phenotype or SASP), which could have deleterious implications on the tissue microenvironment. However, senescent cells also appear to have a cell-type (or even cell-strain) exclusive senescent phenotype (CESP), an area of research that is underexplored. One such CESP is the pro-calcificatory phenotype recently reported in senescent vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Senescent VSMCs have been shown to overexpress genes and proteins (including RUNX-2, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), type I collagen and BMP-2) associated with osteoblasts, leading to partial osteoblastic transdifferentiation. As such, it has been suggested that senescent VSMCs contribute to cardiovascular dysfunction through induction of vascular calcification. This review discusses recent findings on VSMC senescence and their potential role in the pathophysiology of vascular calcification.     

Bone morphogenetic proteins in vascular calcification

Vascular calcification is a common problem among the elderly and those with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes. The process of tunica media vascular calcification in CKD appears to involve a phenotypic change in the vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) resulting in cell-mediated mineralization of the extracellular matrix. The bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are important regulators in orthotopic bone formation, and their localization at sites of vascular calcification raises the question of their role. In this review, we will discuss the actions of the BMPs in vascular calcification. Although the role of BMP-2 in vascular calcification is not proven, it has been the most studied member of the BMP family in this disease process. The role of BMP-2 may be through inducing osteoblastic differentiation of VSMCs through induction of MSX-2, or by inducing apoptosis of VSMCs, a process thought critical in the initiation of vascular calcification. Additionally, BMP-2 may be related to loss of regulation of the matrix Gla protein. A second BMP, BMP-7, less studied than BMP-2 may have opposing actions in vascular calcification. In postnatal life, BMP-7 is expressed primarily in the kidney, and expression is diminished by renal injury. BMP-7 is an important regulator of skeletal remodeling and the VSMC phenotype. BMP-7 restores skeletal anabolic balance in animal models of CKD with disordered skeletal modeling, also reducing serum phosphate in the process. BMP-7 also reverses vascular calcification in CKD, and reduction in vascular calcification is due, in part, to reduced serum phosphate, an important inducer of VSMC-mediated vascular mineralization and in part to direct actions on the VSMC.     

Nitric oxide regulates vascular calcification by interfering with TGF- signalling

AIMS: Vascular calcification often occurs with advancing age, atherosclerosis, and metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus and end-stage renal disease. Vascular calcification is associated with cardiovascular events and increased mortality. Nitric oxide (NO) is crucial for maintaining vascular function, but little is known about how NO affects vascular calcification. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of NO on vascular calcification. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, we examined the inhibitory effects of NO on calcification of murine vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in vitro. We measured calcium concentration, alizarin red staining, and alkaline phosphatase activity to examine the effect of NO on calcification of VSMCs and differentiation of VSMCs into osteoblastic cells. We also determined gene expression and levels of phosphorylation of Smad2/3 by RT-PCR and western blotting. NO inhibited calcification of VSMCs and differentiation of VSMCs into osteoblastic cells. An inhibitor of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase restored the inhibition by NO of osteoblastic differentiation and calcification of VSMCs. NO inhibited transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)-induced phosphorylation of Smad2/3 and expression of TGF-beta-induced genes such as plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. In addition, NO inhibited expression of the TGF-beta receptor ALK5. CONCLUSION: Our data show that NO prevents differentiation of VSMCs into osteoblastic cells by inhibiting TGF-beta signalling through a cGMP-dependent pathway. Our findings suggest that NO may play a beneficial role in atherogenesis in part by limiting vascular calcification.     

Vascular smooth muscle cells and calcification in atherosclerosis

Vascular calcification is a prominent feature of atherosclerosis but the mechanisms underlying vascular calcification are still obscure. Since bone-associated proteins such as osteonectin, osteocalcin, and matrix Gla protein have been detected in calcified vascular tissues, calcification has been considered to be an organized, regulated process similar to mineralization in bone tissue. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are currently considered to be responsible for the formation of vascular calcifications. Apoptosis of VSMCs appears to be a key factor in this process, while other factors including cell-cell interactions (macrophages and VSMCs), lipids, and plasma inorganic phosphate levels modulate the calcification process. The focus of this review is on the role of VSMCs in the development of calcifications in atherosclerotic plaques.     

血管平滑肌细胞表型转化与血管钙化

血管钙化是一种由细胞所介导、主动的生物矿化过程,可增加心血管疾病的患病率和死亡率,并严重危害人类的健康和生活。越来越多的研究证实血管平滑肌细胞(Vascular smooth muscle cell,VSMC)及表型转化（phenotypic switching）在血管钙化的发生发展中具有重要作用。本文将阐述VSMC的表型转化,向骨/软骨化表型转化不同时期的标志蛋白分子,并探讨其表型转化的调控因素,进而深入认识血管钙化的发病过程。     

Melatonin alleviates vascular calcification and ageing through exosomal miR-204/miR-211 cluster in a paracrine manner

In the elderly with atherosclerosis, hypertension and diabetes, vascular calcification and ageing are ubiquitous. Melatonin (MT) has been demonstrated to impact the cardiovascular system. In this study, we have shown that MT alleviates vascular calcification and ageing, and the underlying mechanism involved. We found that both osteogenic differentiation and senescence of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were attenuated by MT in a MT membrane receptor-dependent manner. Moreover, exosomes isolated from VSMCs or calcifying vascular smooth muscle cells (CVSMCs) treated with MT could be uptaken by VSMCs and attenuated the osteogenic differentiation and senescence of VSMCs or CVSMCs, respectively. Moreover, we used conditional medium from MT-treated VSMCs and Transwell assay to confirm exosomes secreted by MT-treated VSMCs attenuated the osteogenic differentiation and senescence of VSMCs through paracrine mechanism. We also found exosomal miR-204/miR-211 mediated the paracrine effect of exosomes secreted by VSMCs. A potential target of these two miRs was revealed to be BMP2. Furthermore, treatment of MT alleviated vascular calcification and ageing in 5/6-nephrectomy plus high-phosphate diet-treated (5/6 NTP) mice, while these effects were partially reversed by GW4869. Exosomes derived from MT-treated VSMCs were internalised into mouse artery detected by in vivo fluorescence image, and these exosomes reduced vascular calcification and ageing of 5/6 NTP mice, but both effects were largely abolished by inhibition of exosomal miR-204 or miR-211. In summary, our present study revealed that exosomes from MT-treated VSMCs could attenuate vascular calcification and ageing in a paracrine manner through an exosomal miR-204/miR-211.