Espressione e rilascio di osteocalcina da parte delle piastrine: ruolo nella calcificazione delle placche aterosclerotiche?
Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Vascular-calcification mechanisms are only partially understood, but the role of circulating calcifying cells and non-collagenous bone matrix proteins in the bone-vascular axis is emerging. Despite platelets represent a cellular interface between hemostasis, inflammation and atherosclerosis and have a myeloid precursor, a possible involvement in the modulation of vascular calcification has been scarcely investigated. We investigated the hypothesis of OC platelet release and its expression in patients with carotid artery occlusive disease. Methods: Expression and release of OC were determined by Western blot, immunofluorescence, FACS, and ELISA in human resting and activated platelets and megakaryocytes. Co-localization of platelet aggregates, macrophages, OC, and calcifications was studied in carotid endoarterectomy specimens and in normal tissues. Results: We found that platelets express OC and co-localize with CD63 in delta-granules. Upon activation with an endogenous mechanism, platelets release OC in the extracellular medium. Expression of OC in megakaryocytes suggests a lineage specificity. Human platelets contain and release OC in circulating platelets were significantly higher in patients with carotid artery occlusive disease than in healthy controls (P<0.0001), despite similar serum levels. In atherosclerotic plaques but not in normal tissues OC strongly overlapped with CD41+ platelets in the early stage of calcification. CD68+OC+ cells were present at the periphery of the calcified zone. Conclusions: Given the active role played by platelets in the atherosclerotic process, the involvement of OC release from platelets in atherosclerotic lesions and the impact of genetic and cardiovascular risk factors in mediating bone-marrow preconditioning should be investigated further
Author: Luca De Toni
Language: Italian
Subfield: Hematology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W8979967