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Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Imaging of Aortic Calcification and Inflammation
08:43

Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Imaging of Aortic Calcification and Inflammation

Published on: May 31, 2016

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CALU polymorphism A29809G affects calumenin availability involving vascular calcification

Eva Jover1, Francisco Marín1, Míriam Quintana1

  • 1Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Universidad de Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain.

Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology
|April 1, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Calumenin (CALU) gene variants influence vascular calcification by affecting protein levels and matrix-Gla-protein activity. This study links a specific CALU polymorphism to reduced arterial calcification, highlighting its clinical significance.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Molecular Genetics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Calumenin (CALU) inhibits matrix-Gla-protein (MGP) gamma-carboxylation, a process crucial for preventing vascular calcification.
  • Vascular calcification is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease, involving complex cellular and molecular mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the clinical relevance of the CALU gene polymorphism rs1043550.
  • To explore the functional impact of this polymorphism on calumenin expression and activity.
  • To elucidate the relationship between calumenin expression profiles and vascular smooth muscle cell (hVSMC) calcification.

Main Methods:

  • Genotyping of 139 low-risk patients for CALU rs1043550.
  • Cardiac computed tomography (CT) to assess coronary artery calcium score and lesion severity.
  • Luciferase reporter assays to determine mRNA stability.
  • In vitro studies using hVSMCs cultured in osteogenic media to induce calcification and assess calumenin expression and MGP carboxylation.

Main Results:

  • Carriage of the 'G' allele of rs1043550 was associated with lower coronary artery calcium scores.
  • Vascular tissues from 'A' allele carriers showed higher calcification, increased calumenin immunostaining, and reduced MGP levels.
  • The 'G' allele decreased CALU mRNA stability by 30% in vascular cells.
  • Induced hVSMC differentiation showed early calumenin overexpression followed by a decrease, correlating with extracellular matrix mineralization and MGP carboxylation status.
  • Calumenin was detected in the mineralized extracellular matrix of calcified arteries.

Conclusions:

  • The CALU polymorphism rs1043550 influences calumenin mRNA stability and tissue availability, conferring a protective effect against vascular calcification.
  • Calumenin exhibits a dynamic expression pattern during VSMC phenotypic transition and extracellular matrix calcification.
  • These findings establish a novel link between VSMC osteogenic transition, calumenin regulation, and vascular calcification.
Keywords:
CalumeninGamma-carboxylationVascular calcificationVascular smooth muscle cellrs1043550

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