Associations of Osteocalcin, Osteoprotegerin, and Calcitonin with Inflammation Biomarkers in Atherosclerotic Plaques of Coronary Arteries

Abstract

We studied associations of osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin, and calcitonin with markers of inflammation in atherosclerotic plaques in coronary arteries and assessed the influence of these biomolecules on calcification of atherosclerotic plaques. The initial stage of calcification of atherosclerotic plaques is characterized by activation of inflammatory processes, which is seen from increased levels of proinflammatory biomarkers (IL-6, IL 8, TNF-α, and IL-1β). Progressive calcification of atherosclerotic plaques is accompanied by insignificant accumulation of calcitonin and osteoprotegerin. The exception is osteocalcin, its concentration significantly increased during calcification. The results suggest that severe vascular calcification can be regarded as non-specific marker of atherosclerosis. Instability of atherosclerotic plaques is associated with higher level of calcification.

The interrelationship of bone and cardiovascular remodeling biomarkers and clinical peculiarities of coronary artery disease in postmenopausal women

“…According to Dzgoeva et al [ 18 ], OPG is involved in the pathogenesis of vascular calcification, endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. There is also evidence in the literature that OPG is a marker for the severity of the atherosclerotic process; its increased level leads to destabilization of the atherosclerotic plaque and the development of atherothrombosis [ 19 – 21 ]. Thus, the osteoprotegerin level may be considered as the link between arterial calcification and bone resorption, which underlie the clinical combination of vascular diseases and osteoporosis.…”

The diagnostic and prognostic value of biomarkers in women with coronary artery disease and osteoporosis

“…Our study showed a significant increase in levels of bone remodeling biomarkers -osteoprotegerin and osteocalcin in groups of women with CAD and BMD disorders (osteopenia and osteoporosis), which can be due to the participation of osteoprotegerin in the process of osteoclastogenesis inhibition and bone tissue resorption, as well as its compensatory enhancement to perform a protective role in the development of vascular calcification 10 . An increase in osteocalcin level may indicate a violation of its inclusion in normal bone structure, compensatory activation of osteoblasts on the background of decreased BMD and its participation in the process of ectopic calcification of the heart and blood vessels 11,17 . The results obtained confirm the data of Sagalovsky et al (2016) on the participation of osteoprotegerin in the regulation of calcium deposition in the vessel wall, increasing its rigidity with the subsequent development of vascular calcification, as well as in the formation of arterial endothelial dysfunction and cardiac remodeling 9 .…”

“…Bone metabolism proteins, as well as markers of systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, have been found to be involved in both the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and the development of osteoporosis 9 . In particular, osteoprotegerin disrupts the process of osteoclastogenesis and reduces the activity of bone resorption 9 , at the same time it acts as an inhibitor of ectopic calcification in patients with coronary artery disease 10 ; osteocalcin is an activator for osteoblasts, besides, its elevated level is found in atherosclerotic plaques 11 ; vasculoendothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is a marker for neoangiogenesis 12 , but numerous studies confirm its role in the activation of osteoclastogenesis and subsequent bone resorption 13,14 . Increased levels of homocysteine exert negative effects on the mechanisms involved in the regulation of vascular tone, lipid metabolism, and the coagulation cascade.…”

Correlativity between osteocalcin and coronary artery calcification in middle-aged and elderly population

“…Some studies have found that the progressive calcification of atherosclerotic plaque is accompanied by the accumulation of insignificant calcitonin and osteocalcin, and the concentration of OC is significantly increased during the calcification process 32 .…”