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Novais EJ, Narayanan R, Canseco JA, van de Wetering K, Kepler CK, Hilibrand AS, Vaccaro AR, Risbud MV. A new perspective on intervertebral disc calcification-from bench to bedside. Bone Res 2024; 12:3. [PMID: 38253615 PMCID: PMC10803356 DOI: 10.1038/s41413-023-00307-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Disc degeneration primarily contributes to chronic low back and neck pain. Consequently, there is an urgent need to understand the spectrum of disc degeneration phenotypes such as fibrosis, ectopic calcification, herniation, or mixed phenotypes. Amongst these phenotypes, disc calcification is the least studied. Ectopic calcification, by definition, is the pathological mineralization of soft tissues, widely studied in the context of conditions that afflict vasculature, skin, and cartilage. Clinically, disc calcification is associated with poor surgical outcomes and back pain refractory to conservative treatment. It is frequently seen as a consequence of disc aging and progressive degeneration but exhibits unique molecular and morphological characteristics: hypertrophic chondrocyte-like cell differentiation; TNAP, ENPP1, and ANK upregulation; cell death; altered Pi and PPi homeostasis; and local inflammation. Recent studies in mouse models have provided a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying this phenotype. It is essential to recognize that the presentation and nature of mineralization differ between AF, NP, and EP compartments. Moreover, the combination of anatomic location, genetics, and environmental stressors, such as aging or trauma, govern the predisposition to calcification. Lastly, the systemic regulation of calcium and Pi metabolism is less important than the local activity of PPi modulated by the ANK-ENPP1 axis, along with disc cell death and differentiation status. While there is limited understanding of this phenotype, understanding the molecular pathways governing local intervertebral disc calcification may lead to developing disease-modifying drugs and better clinical management of degeneration-related pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuel J Novais
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Unidade Local de Saúde do Litoral Alentejano, Orthopedic Department, Santiago do Cacém, Portugal
| | - Rajkishen Narayanan
- Rothman Orthopedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jose A Canseco
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Rothman Orthopedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Koen van de Wetering
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Christopher K Kepler
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Rothman Orthopedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alan S Hilibrand
- Rothman Orthopedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alexander R Vaccaro
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Rothman Orthopedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Makarand V Risbud
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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The context-dependent role of transforming growth factor-β/miR-378a-3p/connective tissue growth factor in vascular calcification: a translational study. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:830-845. [PMID: 36787443 PMCID: PMC9970315 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vascular calcification (VC) constitutes an important vascular pathology with prognostic importance. The pathogenic role of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in VC remains unclear, with heterogeneous findings that we aimed to evaluate using experimental models and clinical specimens. METHODS Two approaches, exogenous administration and endogenous expression upon osteogenic media (OM) exposure, were adopted. Aortic smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) were subjected to TGF-β1 alone, OM alone, or both, with calcification severity determined. We evaluated miR-378a-3p and TGF-β1 effectors (connective tissue growth factor; CTGF) at different periods of calcification. Results were validated in an ex vivo model and further in sera from older adults without or with severe aortic arch calcification. RESULTS TGF-β1 treatment induced a significant dose-responsive increase in ASMC calcification without or with OM at the mature but not early or mid-term VC period. On the other hand, OM alone induced VC accompanied by suppressed TGF-β1 expressions over time; this phenomenon paralleled the declining miR-378a-3p and CTGF expressions since early VC. TGF-β1 treatment led to an upregulation of CTGF since early VC but not miR-378a-3p until mid-term VC, while miR-378a-3p overexpression suppressed CTGF expressions without altering TGF-β1 levels. The OM-induced down-regulation of TGF-β1 and CTGF was also observed in the ex vivo models, with compatible results identified from human sera. CONCLUSIONS We showed that TGF-β1 played a context-dependent role in VC, involving a time-dependent self-regulatory loop of TGF-β1/miR-378a-3p/CTGF signaling. Our findings may assist subsequent studies in devising potential therapeutics against VC.
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Huang J, Ralph D, Boraldi F, Quaglino D, Uitto J, Li Q. Inhibition of the DNA Damage Response Attenuates Ectopic Calcification in Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum. J Invest Dermatol 2022; 142:2140-2148.e1. [PMID: 35143822 PMCID: PMC9329183 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2022.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a heritable ectopic calcification disorder with multi-organ clinical manifestations. The gene at default, ABCC6, encodes an efflux transporter, ABCC6, which is a new player regulating the homeostasis of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), a potent endogenous anti-calcification factor. Previous studies suggested that systemic PPi deficiency is the major, but not the exclusive, cause of ectopic calcification in PXE. In this study, we demonstrate that the DNA damage response (DDR) and poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) pathways are involved locally in PXE at sites of ectopic calcification. Genetic inhibition of PARP1, the predominant PAR-producing enzyme, showed a 54% reduction of calcification in the muzzle skin in Abcc6-/-Parp1-/- mice, as compared to age-matched Abcc6-/-Parp1+/+ littermates. Subsequently, oral administration of minocycline, an inhibitor of DDR/PAR signaling, resulted in an 86% reduction of calcification in the muzzle skin of Abcc6-/- mice. Minocycline treatment also attenuated the DDR/PAR signaling and reduced calcification of dermal fibroblasts derived from PXE patients. The anti-calcification effect of DDR/PAR inhibition was not accompanied by alterations in plasma PPi concentrations. These results suggest that local DDR/PAR signaling in calcification-prone tissues contributes to PXE pathogenesis, and its inhibition might provide a promising treatment strategy for ectopic calcification in PXE, a currently intractable disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhe Huang
- Jefferson Institute of Molecular Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; PXE international Center of Excellence in Research and Clinical Care, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Douglas Ralph
- Jefferson Institute of Molecular Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; PXE international Center of Excellence in Research and Clinical Care, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; Genetics, Genomics and Cancer Biology Ph.D. Program, Jefferson College of Life Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Federica Boraldi
- Department of Life Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena 41125, Italy
| | - Daniela Quaglino
- Department of Life Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena 41125, Italy
| | - Jouni Uitto
- Jefferson Institute of Molecular Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; PXE international Center of Excellence in Research and Clinical Care, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Qiaoli Li
- Jefferson Institute of Molecular Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; PXE international Center of Excellence in Research and Clinical Care, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
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