Endothelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Vascular Calcification of Ins2Akita/+ Mice

PLoS One. 2016 Dec 9;11(12):e0167936. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167936. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) drives endothelium to contribute to normal development and disease processes. Here, we report that EndMTs occur in the diabetic endothelium of Ins2Akita/wt mouse, and show that induction of sex determining region Y-box 2 (Sox2) is a mediator of excess BMP signaling that results in activation of EndMTs and increased vascular calcification. We also find an induction of a complex of serine proteases in the diabetic endothelium, required for the up-regulation of Sox2. Our results suggest that EndMTs contribute to vascular calcification in diabetic arteries.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Vessels / pathology*
  • Calcinosis / pathology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / genetics
  • Endothelium, Vascular / enzymology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / pathology*
  • Insulin / genetics*
  • Mesoderm / pathology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors / physiology
  • Serine Proteases / metabolism
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Ins2 protein, mouse
  • Insulin
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors
  • Sox2 protein, mouse
  • Serine Proteases