Disseminated Arterial Calcification and Enhanced Myogenic Response Are Associated With Abcc6 Deficiency in a Mouse Model of Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum

• Published in: Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology Vol. 34; no. 5; pp. 1045 - 1056
• Main Authors: Kauffenstein, Gilles, Pizard, A, Le Corre, Y, Vessières, E, Grimaud, L, Toutain, B, Labat, C, Mauras, Y, Gorgels, T.G, Bergen, A.A, Le Saux, O, Lacolley, P, Lefthériotis, G, Henrion, D, Martin, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Heart Association, Inc 01.05.2014; American Heart Association
• Subjects: Animals; Arterial Pressure; Arteries; Arteries - metabolism; Arteries - pathology; Arteries - physiopathology; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters - deficiency; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters - genetics; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - metabolism; Calcium; Calcium - metabolism; Cardiology and cardiovascular system; Cell Transdifferentiation; Chondrogenesis; Collagen Type II; Collagen Type II - genetics; Collagen Type II - metabolism; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit - genetics; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit - metabolism; Disease Models, Animal; Elastic Tissue; Elastic Tissue - metabolism; Elastic Tissue - pathology; Elastic Tissue - physiopathology; Gene Expression Regulation; Human health and pathology; Life Sciences; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Osteogenesis; Osteopontin; Osteopontin - genetics; Osteopontin - metabolism; Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum; Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum - genetics; Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum - metabolism; Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum - pathology; Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum - physiopathology; Regional Blood Flow; RNA, Messenger; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; SOXB1 Transcription Factors; SOXB1 Transcription Factors - genetics; SOXB1 Transcription Factors - metabolism; Vascular Calcification; Vascular Calcification - genetics; Vascular Calcification - metabolism; Vascular Calcification - pathology; Vascular Calcification - physiopathology; Vascular Stiffness; Vasoconstriction; calcification, physiologic; arteriosclerosis; ABC transporters; calcification; physiologic
• ISSN: 1079-5642; 1524-4636
• DOI: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.113.302943

OBJECTIVE—Pseudoxanthoma elasticum is an inherited metabolic disorder resulting from ABCC6 gene mutations. It is characterized by progressive calcification and fragmentation of elastic fibers in the skin, retina, and the arterial wall. Despite calcium accumulation in the arteries of patients with pseudoxanthoma elasticum, functional consequences remain unknown. In the present study, we investigated arterial structure and function in Abcc6 mice, a model of the human disease. APPROACH AND RESULTS—Arterial calcium accumulation was evaluated using alizarin red stain and atomic absorption spectrometry. Expression of genes involved in osteochondrogenic differentiation was measured by polymerase chain reaction. Elastic arterial properties were evaluated by carotid echotracking. Vascular reactivity was evaluated using wire and pressure myography and remodeling using histomorphometry. Arterial calcium accumulation was 1.5- to 2-fold higher in Abcc6 than in wild-type mice. Calcium accumulated locally leading to punctuate pattern. Old Abcc6 arteries expressed markers of both osteogenic (Runx2, osteopontin) and chondrogenic lineage (Sox9, type II collagen). Abcc6 arteries displayed slight increase in arterial stiffness and vasoconstrictor tone in vitro tended to be higher in response to phenylephrine and thromboxane A2. Pressure-induced (myogenic) tone was significantly higher in Abcc6 arteries than in wild type. Arterial blood pressure was not significantly changed in Abcc6, despite higher variability. CONCLUSIONS—Scattered arterial calcium depositions are probably a result of osteochondrogenic transdifferentiation of vascular cells. Lower elasticity and increased myogenic tone without major changes in agonist-dependent contraction evidenced in aged Abcc6 mice suggest a reduced control of local blood flow, which in turn may alter vascular homeostasis in the long term.