Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Imaging of Aortic Calcification and Inflammation
Published on: May 31, 2016
Extracellular transglutaminase 2 activates beta-catenin signaling in calcifying vascular smooth muscle cells
Lidia Faverman1, Lyudmila Mikhaylova, Jennifer Malmquist
1Tufts University, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, United States.
Abstract:
Accumulation of transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is often associated with mineral deposits in vasculature. Here, we demonstrate that purified TG2 stimulated a 3-fold increase in matrix mineralization and up-regulation of osteoblastic markers in cultured primary vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Extracellular TG2 interacts with the low density lipoprotein related-protein 5 receptor and activates beta-catenin signaling in VSMCs. These results suggest that TG2 may promote vascular calcification by activating the beta-catenin signaling pathway.
Related Concept Videos
Catenins
Catenins in Cell Junctions
Catenins bind to cell adhesion molecules such as cadherins and link them to different cytoskeletal proteins depending on the type of cell junction. At the adherens...
Tension Response at Adherens Junctions
α-Catenin as a Mechanosensory Protein
The α-catenin of adherens junctions is an allosteric protein with three VH (vinculin homology) domains...
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Some...
TGF - β Signaling Pathway
Calmodulin-dependent Signaling
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply

