RESUMO
An association between high serum calcium/phosphate and cardiovascular events or death is well-established. However, a mechanistic explanation of this correlation is lacking. Here, we examined the role of calciprotein particles (CPPs), nanoscale bodies forming in the human blood upon its supersaturation with calcium and phosphate, in cardiovascular disease. The serum of patients with coronary artery disease or cerebrovascular disease displayed an increased propensity to form CPPs in combination with elevated ionised calcium as well as reduced albumin levels, altogether indicative of reduced Ca2+-binding capacity. Intravenous administration of CPPs to normolipidemic and normotensive Wistar rats provoked intimal hyperplasia and adventitial/perivascular inflammation in both balloon-injured and intact aortas in the absence of other cardiovascular risk factors. Upon the addition to primary human arterial endothelial cells, CPPs induced lysosome-dependent cell death, promoted the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, stimulated leukocyte adhesion, and triggered endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition. We concluded that CPPs, which are formed in the blood as a result of altered mineral homeostasis, cause endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation, thereby contributing to the development of cardiovascular disease.
Assuntos
Angina Pectoris/fisiopatologia , Isquemia Encefálica/fisiopatologia , Cloreto de Cálcio/sangue , Doença da Artéria Coronariana/fisiopatologia , Células Endoteliais/patologia , Infarto do Miocárdio/fisiopatologia , Fosfatos/sangue , Angina Pectoris/sangue , Angina Pectoris/genética , Animais , Aorta/metabolismo , Aorta/patologia , Isquemia Encefálica/sangue , Isquemia Encefálica/genética , Cloreto de Cálcio/química , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Morte Celular , Doença da Artéria Coronariana/sangue , Doença da Artéria Coronariana/genética , Células Endoteliais/metabolismo , Transição Epitelial-Mesenquimal , Floculação , Regulação da Expressão Gênica , Humanos , Inflamação , Molécula 1 de Adesão Intercelular/genética , Molécula 1 de Adesão Intercelular/metabolismo , Leucócitos/metabolismo , Leucócitos/patologia , Lisossomos/metabolismo , Lisossomos/patologia , Masculino , Infarto do Miocárdio/sangue , Infarto do Miocárdio/genética , Fosfatos/química , Cultura Primária de Células , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Fatores de Transcrição da Família Snail/genética , Fatores de Transcrição da Família Snail/metabolismo , Túnica Íntima/metabolismo , Túnica Íntima/patologia , Molécula 1 de Adesão de Célula Vascular/genética , Molécula 1 de Adesão de Célula Vascular/metabolismo , Receptor 2 de Fatores de Crescimento do Endotélio Vascular/genética , Receptor 2 de Fatores de Crescimento do Endotélio Vascular/metabolismoRESUMO
Calcium phosphate bions (CPB) are biomimetic mineralo-organic nanoparticles which represent a physiological mechanism regulating the function, transport and disposal of calcium and phosphorus in the human body. We hypothesised that CPB may be pathogenic entities and even a cause of cardiovascular calcification. Here we revealed that CPB isolated from calcified atherosclerotic plaques and artificially synthesised CPB are morphologically and chemically indistinguishable entities. Their formation is accelerated along with the increase in calcium salts-phosphates/serum concentration ratio. Experiments in vitro and in vivo showed that pathogenic effects of CPB are defined by apoptosis-mediated endothelial toxicity but not by direct tissue calcification or functional changes in anti-calcification proteins. Since the factors underlying the formation of CPB and their pathogenic mechanism closely resemble those responsible for atherosclerosis development, further research in this direction may help us to uncover triggers of this disease.
