Pathogenesis of Arterial Calcification
Racehorses develop calcification of the tunica media of large arteries. Studies suggest that an imbalance between calcification inhibitors and promoters ultimately tip the balance to favor ectopic calcification. Such a process also appears to be regulated and mimic bone formation since proteins that regulate bone development have been found at the calcification sites of arteries.
We reported calcification of large elastic arteries (especially the pulmonary artery), in a significant proportion of racehorses. Histologically, calcified arteries of human, mouse and horse share several pathological features including fragmentation of elastic fibers, fibrosis, mucoid matrix deposition, calcification, and the presence of non-characterized cells in the periphery of the calcified areas. These similarities suggest that there is a potential parallel of the pathogenic process among different species.
We hypothesized that some factors normally associated with bone development, and associated with arterial calcification in other species (humans and mice), are also present in calcified arteries of the horse. Thus, our lab investigates whether some proteins normally involved in bone development were present in calcified arteries of racehorses. Also, we are characterizing the resident cell population in tunica media of unaffected vessels and cells associated with mineralized areas of the arterial wall.
Main branch of horse pulmonary artery with
evident calcified mineral deposit.
(Click pictures for descriptions and full size images.)
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