Abstract-In the present study, we examined the expression of regulators of bone formation and osteoclastogenesis in human atherosclerosis because accumulating evidence suggests that atherosclerotic calcification shares features with bone calcification. The most striking finding of this study was the constitutive immunoreactivity of matrix Gla protein, osteocalcin, and bone sialoprotein in nondiseased aortas and the absence of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2, BMP-4, osteopontin, and osteonectin in nondiseased aortas and early atherosclerotic lesions. When atherosclerotic plaques demonstrated calcification or bone formation, BMP-2, BMP-4, osteopontin, and osteonectin were upregulated. Interestingly, this upregulation was associated with a sustained immunoreactivity of matrix Gla protein, osteocalcin, and bone sialoprotein. The 2 modulators of osteoclastogenesis (osteoprotegerin [OPG] and its ligand, OPGL) were present in the nondiseased vessel wall and in early atherosclerotic lesions. In advanced calcified lesions, OPG was present in bone structures, whereas OPGL was only present in the extracellular matrix surrounding calcium deposits. The observed expression patterns suggest a tight regulation of the expression of bone matrix regulatory proteins during human atherogenesis. The expression pattern of both OPG and OPGL during atherogenesis might suggest a regulatory role of these proteins not only in osteoclastogenesis but also in atherosclerotic calcification. (Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol.

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Abstract-Vein grafts fail due to development of intimal hyperplasia and accelerated atherosclerosis. Many murine genetic models in which genes are overexpressed, deleted, or mutated have been introduced recently. Therefore, mouse models are very well suited to dissect the relative contribution of different genes in the development of accelerated atherosclerosis. In the present study, we evaluated whether accelerated atherosclerosis in human vein grafts could be mimicked in hypercholesterolemic APOE*3 Leiden transgenic mice. Venous bypass grafting was performed in the carotid artery in APOE*3 Leiden mice fed either a standard chow diet or a high cholesterol-rich diet for 4 weeks. At several time points (0 hour to 28 days), mice were euthanized and the morphology of the vein grafts was analyzed. In normocholesterolemic mice, vein graft thickening up to 10-fold original thickness, predominantly consisting of ␣-smooth muscle cell actin-positive cells, was observed after 28 days. In hypercholesterolemic mice, accelerated atherosclerosis with accumulation of lipid-loaded foam cells was observed within 7 days after surgery. This accelerated atherosclerosis progressed in time and resulted in significant increase in vein graft thickening up to 50 times original thickness with foam cell-rich lesions and calcification within 28 days after surgery.

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