RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Vascular calcification is associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke. The objective of this work was to examine the ability of 17ß-estradiol (E2) to stimulate calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in vivo, using aged apolipoprotein E-null mice with advanced atherosclerotic lesions, and subsequently to explore underlying mechanisms in vitro. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Silastic E2 capsules were implanted into male and female apolipoprotein E-null mice aged 34 weeks. Plaque and calcified area were measured in the aortic sinus and innominate artery after 8 weeks. Immunohistochemical analysis examined expression of the estrogen receptors (estrogen receptor alpha and estrogen receptor beta [ERß]). VSMC expression of osteogenic markers was examined using digital polymerase chain reaction. Advanced atherosclerotic lesions were present in all mice at the end of 8 weeks. In both male and female mice, E2 increased calcified area in a site-specific manner in the aortic sinus independently of plaque growth or lipid levels and occurred in association with a site-specific decrease in the proportion of ERß-positive intimal cells. Calcified lesions expressed collagen I and bone sialoprotein, with decreased matrix Gla protein. In vitro, E2 suppressed ERß expression and increased VSMC mineralization, demonstrating increased collagen I and II, osteocalcin and bone sialoprotein, and reduced matrix Gla protein and osteopontin. Antagonism or RNA silencing of estrogen receptor alpha, ERß, or both further increased VSMC mineralization. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that E2 can drive calcification in advanced atherosclerotic lesions by promoting the differentiation of VSMC to osteoblast-like cells, a process which is augmented by inhibition of estrogen receptor alpha or ERß activity.
Assuntos
Aterosclerose/induzido quimicamente , Diferenciação Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Estradiol/toxicidade , Receptor alfa de Estrogênio/agonistas , Receptor beta de Estrogênio/agonistas , Músculo Liso Vascular/efeitos dos fármacos , Miócitos de Músculo Liso/efeitos dos fármacos , Osteogênese/efeitos dos fármacos , Calcificação Vascular/induzido quimicamente , Animais , Apolipoproteínas E/deficiência , Apolipoproteínas E/genética , Aterosclerose/genética , Aterosclerose/metabolismo , Aterosclerose/patologia , Proteínas de Ligação ao Cálcio/metabolismo , Bovinos , Células Cultivadas , Colágeno/metabolismo , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Implantes de Medicamento , Estradiol/administração & dosagem , Antagonistas do Receptor de Estrogênio/farmacologia , Receptor alfa de Estrogênio/genética , Receptor alfa de Estrogênio/metabolismo , Receptor beta de Estrogênio/genética , Receptor beta de Estrogênio/metabolismo , Proteínas da Matriz Extracelular/metabolismo , Feminino , Predisposição Genética para Doença , Humanos , Sialoproteína de Ligação à Integrina/metabolismo , Masculino , Camundongos Knockout , Músculo Liso Vascular/metabolismo , Músculo Liso Vascular/patologia , Miócitos de Músculo Liso/metabolismo , Miócitos de Músculo Liso/patologia , Neointima , Osteocalcina/metabolismo , Osteopontina/metabolismo , Fenótipo , Placa Aterosclerótica , Interferência de RNA , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacos , Transfecção , Calcificação Vascular/genética , Calcificação Vascular/metabolismo , Calcificação Vascular/patologia , Proteína de Matriz GlaRESUMO
Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) is a rare, low-grade astrocytic tumor found in the central nervous system. Histologically, the tumor is characterized by markedly pleomorphic and lipidized cells. Although most of the patients have a favorable prognosis, a small number of cases undergoing recurrence or progression to anaplastic astrocytoma were reported. Very few genetic studies have been performed on PXA because of its rarity and the pathogenesis of this neoplasm is largely unknown. In order to provide an overview of genetic alterations in PXA, we performed comparative genomic hybridization to identify chromosomal imbalances (DNA gains and losses) in three cases of PXA. Genetic imbalance was detected on at least one chromosome for each case. One case, which revealed multiple genetic alterations, showed a poor prognosis. DNA gain on chromosome 7 and loss on 8p were demonstrated in two of three cases, suggesting that the candidate gene(s) located on these regions may play a role in the development of PXA. Further studies are needed to identify the residing candidate genes that are involved in the tumorigenesis of PXA. In addition, the histopathological features and previous genetic studies on PXA are reviewed.