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Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Imaging of Aortic Calcification and Inflammation
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Roles of Histone Acetylation Modifiers and Other Epigenetic Regulators in Vascular Calcification

Duk-Hwa Kwon1, Juhee Ryu1, Young-Kook Kim2

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun 58128, Korea.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|May 8, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Vascular calcification (VC) involves calcium buildup in arteries, linked to cardiovascular diseases. Epigenetic regulators, like histone deacetylases, offer potential therapeutic targets for treating VC.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Science
  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Vascular calcification (VC) is arterial calcium deposition, a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), atherosclerosis, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease.
  • VC is an active cellular process involving vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) transitioning to an osteochondrogenic phenotype, mimicking bone formation.
  • Epigenetic factors such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and noncoding RNAs significantly regulate VC development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current evidence on the role of epigenetic regulators in VC.
  • To explore histone deacetylases (HDACs) as key epigenetic factors in VC.
  • To propose therapeutic implications of targeting epigenetic regulators for VC treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of experimental evidence on VC and epigenetic regulation.
  • Focus on studies investigating histone deacetylases (HDACs) in the context of VC.
  • Analysis of the link between epigenetic mechanisms and VSMC phenotype switching.

Main Results:

  • VC is an active process in VSMCs, sharing similarities with bone formation.
  • Epigenetic modifications, including histone modifications by HDACs, play a crucial role in regulating VC.
  • Evidence suggests HDACs are implicated in the osteochondrogenic differentiation of VSMCs during VC.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic regulators, particularly histone deacetylases, are critical in the pathogenesis of vascular calcification.
  • Targeting epigenetic mechanisms, specifically HDACs, presents a promising therapeutic strategy for VC.
  • Further research into HDAC inhibitors could lead to novel treatments for VC and associated cardiovascular conditions.

Keywords:
epigenetic regulatorhistone deacetylasehistone modifierspost-translational modificationvascular calcificationvascular smooth muscle cells

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