Estrogen receptor control of atherosclerotic calcification and smooth muscle cell osteogenic differentiation

Lucinda S. McRobb, Kristine C.Y. McGrath, Tania Tsatralis, Eleanore C. Liong, Joanne T.M. Tan, Gillian Hughes, David J. Handelsman, Alison K. Heather*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    51 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Objective-Vascular calcification is associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke. The objective of this work was to examine the ability of 17β-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 [ERβ]). 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 ERβ-positive intimal cells. Calcified lesions expressed collagen I and bone sialoprotein, with decreased matrix Gla protein. In vitro, E2 suppressed ERβ 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, ERβ, 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 ERβ activity.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1127-1137
    Number of pages11
    JournalArteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology
    Volume37
    Issue number6
    Early online date2017
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2017

    Keywords

    • atherosclerosis
    • cell differentiation
    • estradiol
    • receptors, estrogen
    • vascular calcification

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