The Inhibitory Roles of Vitamin K in Progression of Vascular Calcification

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that is indispensable for the activation of vitamin K-dependent proteins (VKDPs) and may be implicated in cardiovascular disease (CVD). Vascular calcification is intimately associated with CV events and mortality and is a chronic inflammatory process in which activated macrophages promote osteoblastic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) through the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and oncostatin M (OSM) in both intimal and medial layers of arterial walls. This process may be mainly mediated through NF-κB signaling pathway. Vitamin K has been demonstrated to exert anti-inflammatory effects through antagonizing NF-κB signaling in both in vitro and in vivo studies, suggesting that vitamin K may prevent vascular calcification via anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is a major inhibitor of soft tissue calcification and contributes to preventing both intimal and medial vascular calcification. Vitamin K may also inhibit progression of vascular calcification by enhancing the activity of MGP through facilitating its γ-carboxylation. In support of this hypothesis, the procalcific effects of warfarin, an antagonist of vitamin K, on arterial calcification have been demonstrated in several clinical studies. Among the inactive MGP forms, dephospho-uncarboxylated MGP (dp-ucMGP) may be regarded as the most useful biomarker of not only vitamin K deficiency, but also vascular calcification and CVD. There have been several studies showing the association of circulating levels of dp-ucMGP with vitamin K intake, vascular calcification, mortality, and CVD. However, additional larger prospective studies including randomized controlled trials are necessary to confirm the beneficial effects of vitamin K supplementation on CV health.

Download Full-text

Abstract 518: In Vitro and in vivo Disease Modeling Using Patient Derived iPSCs to Characterize the Calcification Phenotype in Arterial Calcification Due to Deficiency of CD73

Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology ◽

10.1161/atvb.36.suppl_1.518 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 36 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Cynthia St. Hilaire ◽

Hui Jin ◽

Yuting Huang ◽

Dan Yang ◽

Alejandra Negro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vascular Calcification ◽

Disease Modeling ◽

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell ◽

Dermal Fibroblasts ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Arterial Calcification ◽

Patient Specific ◽

And Control

Objective: The objective of this study was to develop a patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based disease model to understand the process by which CD73-deficiency leads to vascular calcification in the disease, Arterial Calcification due to Deficiency of CD73 (ACDC). Approach & Results: ACDC is an autosomal recessive disease resulting from mutations in the gene encoding for CD73, which converts extracellular AMP to adenosine. CD73-deficiency manifests with tortuosity and vascular calcification of the medial layer of lower-extremity arteries, a pathology associated with diabetes and chronic kidney disease. We previously identified that dermal fibroblasts isolated from ACDC patients calcify in vitro, however in vivo studies of the vasculature are limited, as murine models of CD73 deficiency do not recapitulate the human disease phenotype. Thus, we created iPSCs from ACDC patients and control fibroblasts. ACDC and Control iPSCs form teratomas when injected in immune-compromised mice, however ACDC iPSC teratomas exhibit extensive calcifications. Control and ACDC iPSCs were differentiated down the mesenchymal lineage (MSC) and while there was no difference in chondrogenesis and adipogenesis, ACDC iMSCs underwent osteogenesis sooner than control iPSC, have higher activity of tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP), and lower levels of extracellular adenosine. During osteogenic simulation, TNAP activity in ACDC cells significantly increased adenosine levels, however, not to levels needed for functional compensatory stimulation of the adenosine receptors. Inhibition of TNAP with levimisole ablates this increase in adenosine. Treatment with an A2b adenosine receptor (AR) agonist drastically reduced TNAP activity in vitro, and calcification in ACDC teratomas, as did treatment with etidronate, which is currently being tested in a clinical trial on ACDC patients. Conclusions: These results illustrate a pro-osteogenic phenotype in CD73-deficient cells whereby TNAP activity attempts to compensate for CD73 deficiency, but subsequently induces calcification that can be reversed by activation of the A2bAR. The iPSC teratoma model may be used to screen other potential therapeutics for calcification disorders.

Download Full-text

Abstract 348: Dietary Quercetin Prevents Warfarin-Induced Vascular Calcification in Rats

Circulation Research ◽

10.1161/res.111.suppl_1.a348 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 111 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Maria Nurminskaya ◽

Derek Banyard ◽

Dmitry Nurminsky ◽

Mikhail Konoplyannikov ◽

Kelly Beazley

Keyword(s):

Smooth Muscle ◽

Vascular Calcification ◽

Vitamin K ◽

Smooth Muscle Actin ◽

Male Rats ◽

Arterial Calcification ◽

Type I ◽

Blood Pressure Elevation

Medial arterial calcification contributes to the development of isolated systolic hypertension, the most frequent type of blood pressure elevation in the elderly; complicates a variety of prevalent disorders such as diabetes and renal disease; and can develop in response to warfarin - the staple in anticoagulant therapy to millions of people. Our in vitro studies have shown that the bioflavonoid quercetin effectively prevents warfarin-induced vascular calcification in VSMCs and identified b-catenin signaling as a specific target of this effect. Here, we have tested in vivo the association of b-catenin signaling with warfarin-induced calcification and the efficacy of quercetin in preventing warfarin-induced aortic calcium accrual. Vitamin K-warfarin treatment was used for 4 weeks to induce arterial calcification in male rats. Molecular analysis demonstrates activation of b-catenin signaling in the calcified areas and osteoblast-like transformation in vascular cells. Dietary quercetin (10 mg/kg body weight) (Quercegen Pharma, Newton, MA) efficiently prevents warfarin-induced calcification (3.04+/-0.45 ug Ca in vitamin K-warfarin animals vs 0.77+/-0.08 ug Ca in quercetin supplementation per mg dry arterial tissue (n=5; p<0.05). In parallel, quercetin inhibits b-catenin signaling and phenotypic transformation in vascular smooth muscle analyzed by expression of transcription factor Runx2, collagen type I and osteocalcin. Further, quercetin diet enhances expression of VSMC markers smooth muscle actin, myosin heavy chain, sm22a and calponin, suggesting a stabilized smooth muscle phenotype of these cells. No toxic or systemic effects of quercetin treatment were observed, identifying this bioflavonoid as a putative therapeutic for vascular calcification.

Download Full-text

The Novel Role of PGC1α in Bone Metabolism

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22094670 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (9) ◽

pp. 4670

Author(s):

Cinzia Buccoliero ◽

Manuela Dicarlo ◽

Patrizia Pignataro ◽

Francesco Gaccione ◽

Silvia Colucci ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Metabolism ◽

Osteoblastic Differentiation ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Peroxisome Proliferator ◽

Sirtuin 3 ◽

Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor ◽

Increased Risk

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1α) is a protein that promotes transcription of numerous genes, particularly those responsible for the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis. Evidence for a key role of PGC1α in bone metabolism is very recent. In vivo studies showed that PGC1α deletion negatively affects cortical thickness, trabecular organization and resistance to flexion, resulting in increased risk of fracture. Furthermore, in a mouse model of bone disease, PGC1α activation stimulates osteoblastic gene expression and inhibits atrogene transcription. PGC1α overexpression positively affects the activity of Sirtuin 3, a mitochondrial nicotinammide adenina dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent deacetylase, on osteoblastic differentiation. In vitro, PGC1α overexpression prevents the reduction of mitochondrial density, membrane potential and alkaline phosphatase activity caused by Sirtuin 3 knockdown in osteoblasts. Moreover, PGC1α influences the commitment of skeletal stem cells towards an osteogenic lineage, while negatively affects marrow adipose tissue accumulation. In this review, we will focus on recent findings about PGC1α action on bone metabolism, in vivo and in vitro, and in pathologies that cause bone loss, such as osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes.

Download Full-text

Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Daturaolone from Datura innoxia Mill.: In Silico, In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

Pharmaceuticals ◽

10.3390/ph14121248 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (12) ◽

pp. 1248

Author(s):

Muhammad Waleed Baig ◽

Humaira Fatima ◽

Nosheen Akhtar ◽

Hidayat Hussain ◽

Mohammad K. Okla ◽

...

Keyword(s):

In Silico ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Metabolic Reaction ◽

Datura Innoxia ◽

In Vivo Models ◽

Immobility Time ◽

Anti Inflammatory

Exploration of leads with therapeutic potential in inflammatory disorders is worth pursuing. In line with this, the isolated natural compound daturaolone from Datura innoxia Mill. was evaluated for its anti-inflammatory potential using in silico, in vitro and in vivo models. Daturaolone follows Lipinski’s drug-likeliness rule with a score of 0.33. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity prediction show strong plasma protein binding; gastrointestinal absorption (Caco-2 cells permeability = 34.6 nm/s); no blood–brain barrier penetration; CYP1A2, CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 metabolism; a major metabolic reaction, being aliphatic hydroxylation; no hERG inhibition; and non-carcinogenicity. Predicted molecular targets were mainly inflammatory mediators. Molecular docking depicted H-bonding interaction with nuclear factor kappa beta subunit (NF-κB), cyclooxygenase-2, 5-lipoxygenase, phospholipase A2, serotonin transporter, dopamine receptor D1 and 5-hydroxy tryptamine. Its cytotoxicity (IC50) value in normal lymphocytes was >20 µg/mL as compared to cancer cells (Huh7.5; 17.32 ± 1.43 µg/mL). Daturaolone significantly inhibited NF-κB and nitric oxide production with IC50 values of 1.2 ± 0.8 and 4.51 ± 0.92 µg/mL, respectively. It significantly reduced inflammatory paw edema (81.73 ± 3.16%), heat-induced pain (89.47 ± 9.01% antinociception) and stress-induced depression (68 ± 9.22 s immobility time in tail suspension test). This work suggests a possible anti-inflammatory role of daturaolone; however, detailed mechanistic studies are still necessary to corroborate and extrapolate the findings.

Download Full-text