细胞外基质、基质水解酶与血管钙化

血管钙化常见于动脉粥样硬化、糖尿病、慢性肾功能衰竭及衰老的血管.近年来的研究证实血管钙化的发生是一种类似于生理性矿化的主动调节过程,而非单纯的钙磷的被动沉积.血管细胞外基质是血管的主要组成成分,对血管起支持、保护作用,且与血管壁细胞相互作用影响其粘附、增殖、迁移、分化等功能,同时又是各种生长因子和细胞因子的储存库.目前的研究显示,在血管钙化过程中细胞外基质的组成和表达可能发生了变化,并参与了对钙化进程的主动调节.基质水解酶可能通过基质降解依赖或非依赖的机制,在钙化的发生发展中起到重要作用.本文主要综述了在血管钙化过程中细胞外基质的变化及其对血管钙化的作用,以及基质水解酶对血管钙化过程可能的影响.

Extracellular matrix, matrix-degrading proteases and vascular calcification

Vascular calcification is a common phenomena among atherosclerosis, diabetes, chronic kidney failure and aging. Recently, extensive researches have shown that the mechanisms of vascular calcification share great similarity with physiological mineralization rather than a passive deposition of calcium and phosphate. As a major component of blood vessels, the extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins not only provide a scaffold for normal vasculature, but also regulate the attachment, proliferation, migration and differentiation of vascular cells through ECM-cell interaction. Furthermore, it also serves as a reservoir for growth factors or cytokines. Previous studies have indicated the potential importance of ECM and ECM degrading proteases during vascular calcification. Extracellular matrix not only provides a major site for calcium and phosphate deposition, but also actively participates in the process of calcification through an accelerating or inhibitory effect. Multiple extracellular matrix proteins have been altered during the calcification. The disturbance of the delicate balance of ECM homeostasis may affect the evolution of vascular calcification. On the other hand, matrix degrading proteases (such as MMPs) may be involved in the occurrence and development of vascular calcification by affecting matrix or non-matrix substances (such as cytokines or growth factors). The current review summarizes the recent advance on vascular calcification in the context of ECM and MMPs.