Objective: Pseudoxanthoma elasticum is an inherited metabolic disorder resulting from ABCC6 gene mutations. It is characterized by progressive calcification and fragmentation of elastic fibers in the skin, retina, and the arterial wall. Despite calcium accumulation in the arteries of patients with pseudoxanthoma elasticum, functional consequences remain unknown. In the present study, we investigated arterial structure and function in Abcc6(-/-) mice, a model of the human disease.
Approach And Results: Arterial calcium accumulation was evaluated using alizarin red stain and atomic absorption spectrometry. Expression of genes involved in osteochondrogenic differentiation was measured by polymerase chain reaction. Elastic arterial properties were evaluated by carotid echotracking. Vascular reactivity was evaluated using wire and pressure myography and remodeling using histomorphometry. Arterial calcium accumulation was 1.5- to 2-fold higher in Abcc6(-/-) than in wild-type mice. Calcium accumulated locally leading to punctuate pattern. Old Abcc6(-/-) arteries expressed markers of both osteogenic (Runx2, osteopontin) and chondrogenic lineage (Sox9, type II collagen). Abcc6(-/-) arteries displayed slight increase in arterial stiffness and vasoconstrictor tone in vitro tended to be higher in response to phenylephrine and thromboxane A2. Pressure-induced (myogenic) tone was significantly higher in Abcc6(-/-) arteries than in wild type. Arterial blood pressure was not significantly changed in Abcc6(-/-), despite higher variability.
Conclusions: Scattered arterial calcium depositions are probably a result of osteochondrogenic transdifferentiation of vascular cells. Lower elasticity and increased myogenic tone without major changes in agonist-dependent contraction evidenced in aged Abcc6(-/-) mice suggest a reduced control of local blood flow, which in turn may alter vascular homeostasis in the long term.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.113.302943 | DOI Listing |
Klin Monbl Augenheilkd
January 2025
Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom.
A diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may have a significant impact on a patient's life. Therefore, it is important to consider differential diagnoses, as these can differ considerably from AMD regarding prognosis, inheritance, monitoring and therapy. Differential diagnoses include other macular diseases with drusen, drusen-like changes, monogenic retinal dystrophies, as well as a wide range of other, often rare macular diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCalcif Tissue Int
January 2025
Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
Autosomal recessive hypophosphatemic rickets type 2 (ARHR2) is an uncommon hereditary form of rickets characterised by chronic renal phosphate loss and impaired bone mineralisation. This results from compound heterozygous or homozygous pathogenic variants in ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1), a key producer of extracellular inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) and an inhibitor of fibroblast growth factor23 (FGF23). ENPP1 deficiency impacts FGF23 and increases its activity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOphthalmic Genet
December 2024
Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Florida, USA.
Background: Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is characterized by aberrant calcification of elastic tissues throughout the body causing varying degrees of skin, cardiac, and ocular disease. Although PXE is classically regarded as an autosomal recessive disease, recent reports have demonstrated a haploinsufficiency phenotype, in which carriers of monoallelic ATP-binding cassette transporter () gene mutations demonstrate mild manifestations of PXE. In this case report, we describe a patient with a monoallelic mutation and atypical angioid streaks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Cosmet Dermatol
December 2024
Department of Biology and Nanomedicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Background/aim: Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a genetic connective tissue disorder that affects the skin with limited treatment options. A recent technology employing particle-free polycaprolactone (PCL) has shown promising results in treating inner thighs and kness of a 27-year-old female patient. This article provides a case report along with our detailed treatment protocol based on the efficacy of PCL in reversing skin laxity that can be easily incorporated into the therapeutic approaches for patients with PXE.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDermatol Online J
October 2024
Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
Pseudoxanthoma elasticum-like papillary dermal elastolysis is a rare, benign, acquired, gradually-developing chronic elastic tissue disorder that almost exclusively affects post-menopausal women. It is essential to recognize this disease as it mimics the inherited pseudoxanthoma clinically. The pathophysiology behind this disease is multifactorial; it includes intrinsic skin aging, ultraviolet radiation exposure, and genetic components.
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