Smooth muscle cell-specific matrix metalloproteinase 3 deletion reduces osteogenic transformation and medial artery calcification

Cardiovasc Res. 2024 May 7;120(6):658-670. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvae035.

Abstract

Aims: Vascular calcification is highly prevalent in atherosclerosis, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. It is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease. Matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3), also known as stromelysin-1, is part of the large matrix metalloproteinase family. It can degrade extracellular matrix components of the arterial wall including elastin, which plays a central role in medial calcification. In this study, we sought to determine the role of MMP-3 in medial calcification.

Methods and results: We found that MMP-3 was increased in rodent models of medial calcification as well as in vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) cultured in a phosphate calcification medium. It was also highly expressed in calcified tibial arteries in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Knockdown and inhibition of MMP-3 suppressed phosphate-induced SMC osteogenic transformation and calcification, whereas the addition of a recombinant MMP-3 protein facilitated SMC calcification. In an ex vivo organ culture model and a rodent model of medial calcification induced by vitamin D3, we found that MMP-3 deficiency significantly suppressed medial calcification in the aorta. We further found that medial calcification and osteogenic transformation were significantly reduced in SMC-specific MMP-3-deficient mice, suggesting that MMP-3 in SMCs is an important factor in this process.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that MMP-3 expression in vascular SMCs is an important regulator of medial calcification and that targeting MMP-3 could provide a therapeutic strategy to reduce it and address its consequences in patients with PAD.

Keywords: Calcification; MMP-3; Osteogenic transformation; Smooth muscle cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aorta / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Deletion*
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 3* / deficiency
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 3* / genetics
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 3* / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / cytology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
  • Vascular Calcification* / enzymology
  • Vascular Calcification* / genetics

Substances

  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 3
  • Recombinant Proteins