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(Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2008;28:856.)
© 2008 American Heart Association, Inc.

Integrated Physiology/Experimental Medicine

Sequential Activation of Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 and Transforming Growth Factor β in Arterial Elastocalcinosis

Céline Bouvet; Simon Moreau; Joannie Blanchette; Denis de Blois; Pierre Moreau

From the Faculty of Pharmacy (C.B., S.M., J.B., P.M.) and the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine (D.d.B.), University of Montreal, Québec, Canada.

Correspondence to Pierre Moreau, PhD, Professor and Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, Université de Montréal, 2940 Chemin de la polytechnique, Room 2143, P.O. Box 6128, Station "Centre-Ville", Montréal, Québec, H3C 3J7, Canada. E-mail pierre.moreau{at}umontreal.ca

Abstract

Objective— Isolated systolic hypertension is associated with increased elastase activity, vascular calcification, and vascular stiffness. We sought to determine the importance of elastase activity and matrix degradation in the development of elastocalcinosis.

Methods and Results— Elastocalcinosis was induced in vivo and ex vivo using warfarin. Hemodynamic parameters, calcium deposition, elastin degradation, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling, and elastase activity were evaluated at different time points in the in vivo model. Metalloproteinases, serine proteases, and cysteine proteases were blocked to measure their relative implication in elastin degradation. Gradual elastocalcinosis was obtained, and paralleled the elastin degradation pattern. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activity was increased at 5 days of warfarin treatment, whereas TGF-β signaling was increased at 7 days. Calcification was significantly elevated after 21 days. Blocking metalloproteinases activation with doxycycline and TGF-β signaling with SB-431542 were able to prevent calcification.

Conclusions— Early MMP-9 activation precedes the increase of TGF-β signaling, and overt vascular elastocalcinosis and stiffness. Modulation of matrix degradation could represent a novel therapeutic avenue to prevent the gradual age-related stiffening of large arteries, leading to isolated systolic hypertension.

The objective was to determine the importance and timing of matrix degradation in relation to elastocalcinosis associated with enhanced vascular stiffness. Matrix degradation and its cellular signaling are essential to elastocalcinosis and precede elastin fragmentation, overt calcification, and enhanced vascular stiffness. These early events could represent means to limit stiffening of large arteries.

Key Words: vascular calcification • elastocalcinosis • elastases • extracellular matrix • MMP-9 • TGF-β