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Review
. 2016 Jul;4(1):43-8.
doi: 10.1159/000446399. Epub 2016 May 19.

Molecular Mechanisms of Arterial Stiffening

Marina Cecelja  1 , Phil Chowienczyk  1
Affiliations
Review

Molecular Mechanisms of Arterial Stiffening

Marina Cecelja et al. Pulse (Basel). 2016 Jul.

Abstract

Stiffening of large arteries is a hallmark of vascular aging and one of the most important determinants of the age-related increase in blood pressure and cardiovascular disease events. Despite a substantial genetic component, the molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypic variability in arterial stiffness remain unknown. Previous genetic studies have identified several genetic variants that are associated with measures of arterial stiffness. Here, we review the relevant advances in the identification of pathways underlying arterial stiffness from genomic studies.

Keywords: Arterial calcification; Arterial stiffening; Cardiovascular disease; Genomic studies; Vascular aging.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Conceptual pathway linking COL4A1 and ENPP1 with arterial stiffness using the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis knowledge database. Activation of the calcium-sensing receptor (CASR) acts on the transcriptional regulator catenin (cadherin-associated protein) beta 1 (CTNNB1) which initiates the transcription of ENPP1 and COL4A1. Increased ENPP1 expression may lead to arterial stiffening through its effect on calcification, or it may trigger osteopontin (SPP1) and influence the extracellular matrix through its effects on MMP2/9 [49].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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