engleski

The Expression of Bone-Related Proteins in Vascular Calcification and its Serum Correlations with Coronary Artery Calcification Score

Since vascular calcification is considered process regulated similar as bone tissue mineralization, we investigated the participation of bone formation proteins. We analyzed correlation of serum circulating bone markers, osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor ĸB ligand (RANKL) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, to coronary artery calcification score. Aside of that we consifrtrf thr effect of inorganic phosphate on pro- and anti- calcifying tissue factors. We confirmed that circulating OPG is independent calcium score predictor with its high serum concentration speaking in favor of high coronary artery calcification. In tissue samples of non-diseased human renal arteries, the expression of OPG and receptor activator of nuclear factor ĸB (RANK) was positive, while expression of RANKL was absent. In atherosclerotic specimens and arteries with medial calcification most upregulated was expression of bone morphogenetic proteins, BMP- 2 and BMP-7, as well as expression of RANK and RANKL. In the diseased arteries OPG expression was present, only in areas where bone structures were formed. In atherosclerotic and medial calcification arteries loss of alpha- smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression was observed. These data suggest a possible regulatory role of examined proteins, especially OPG and RANKL in vascular calcification, as well as their possible clinical significance as circulating predictors of vascular calcification.

calcification score, chronic kidney disease, OPG, RANKL, vascular calcification

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