Browsing by Author "O'Neill, Kalisha D."

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    Decreased microRNA is involved in the vascular remodeling abnormalities in chronic kidney disease (CKD)
    (2013-05-22) Chen, Neal X.; Kiattisunthorn, Kraiwiporn; O'Neill, Kalisha D.; Chen, Xianming; Moorthi, Ranjani N.; Gattone II, Vincent H.; Allen, Matthew R.; Moe, Sharon M.
    Patients with CKD have abnormal vascular remodeling that is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) control mRNA expression intracellularly and are secreted into the circulation; three miRNAs (miR-125b, miR-145 and miR-155) are known to alter vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and differentiation. We measured these vascular miRNAs in blood from 90 patients with CKD and found decreased circulating levels with progressive loss of eGFR by multivariate analyses. Expression of these vascular miRNAs miR-125b, miR-145, and miR-155 was decreased in the thoracic aorta in CKD rats compared to normal rats, with concordant changes in target genes of RUNX2, angiotensin II type I receptor (AT1R), and myocardin. Furthermore, the expression of miR-155 was negatively correlated with the quantity of calcification in the aorta, a process known to be preceded by vascular de-differentiation in these animals. We then examined the mechanisms of miRNA regulation in primary VSMC and found decreased expression of miR-125b, 145, and 155 in VSMC from rats with CKD compared to normal littermates but no alteration in DROSHA or DICER, indicating that the low levels of expression is not due to altered intracellular processing. Finally, overexpression of miR-155 in VSMC from CKD rats inhibited AT1R expression and decreased cellular proliferation supporting a direct effect of miR-155 on VSMC. In conclusion, we have found ex vivo and in vitro evidence for decreased expression of these vascular miRNA in CKD, suggesting that alterations in miRNAs may lead to the synthetic state of VSMC found in CKD. The decreased levels in the circulation may reflect decreased vascular release but more studies are needed to confirm this relationship.
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    Low Bone Turnover in Chronic Kidney Disease is associated with decreased VEGF-A expression and osteoblast differentiation
    (Karger, 2015-08) Chen, Neal X.; O'Neill, Kalisha D.; Allen, Matthew R.; Department of Medicine, IU School of Medicine
    Background: Low turnover bone (low bone formation rates (BFRs)) with decreased osteoblast number is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and attributed to ‘over-suppression' of the parathyroid hormone (PTH) despite supra-physiologic levels. An alternative hypothesis is abnormal osteoblast differentiation, resulting in low BFRs due to reduced VEGF-A. Methods: We analyzed the expression of VEGF-A and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation factors in freshly isolated bone marrow (BM) cells, and in BM cell-derived MSC in rats with different levels of BFRs and PTH (modulated by calcium and zoledronic acid). The regulators of VEGF in MSC were also determined. Results: VEGF-A expression was reduced in the BM cells from CKD vs. normal animals (p < 0.02). In BM-derived MSC from CKD, there were decreased osteoblast transcription factors and mineralization. In CKD animals, the BM VEGF-A expression was positively correlated with BFR (r = 0.80, p < 0.001). Reducing BFRs in CKD animals led to reductions in VEGF-A expression and osteoblast transcription factors regardless of the PTH level. We therefore examined other regulators of VEGF-A and found decreased expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and the master transcription factor of antioxidants nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 in CKD animals with low PTH. Conclusion: Low BFRs in CKD are associated with a basal decrease in VEGF-A expression in BM that may be driven by altered hypoxia and oxidative stress.
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    Matrix vesicles induce calcification of recipient vascular smooth muscle cells through multiple signaling pathways
    (Elsevier, 2018-02) Chen, Neal X.; O'Neill, Kalisha D.; Moe, Sharon M.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    In patients with chronic kidney and end-stage renal diseases, the major risk factor for progression of arterial calcification is the presence of existing (baseline) calcification. Here, we tested whether calcification of arteries is extended from calcified vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to adjacent normal cells by matrix vesicle–induced alteration of cell signaling. Matrix vesicles isolated from VSMC of rats with chronic kidney disease were co-cultured with VSMCs from normal littermates. Endocytosis of vesicles by recipient cells was confirmed by confocal microscopy. The addition of cellular matrix vesicles with characteristics of exosomes and low fetuin-A content enhanced the calcification of recipient VSMC. Further, only cellular-derived matrix vesicles induced an increase in intracellular calcium ion concentration, NOX1 (NADPH oxidase) and the anti-oxidant superoxide dismutase-2 in recipient normal VSMC. The increase in intracellular calcium ion concentration was due to release from endoplasmic reticulum and partially attributed to the activation of both NOX1 and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK1 and Erk1/2) signaling, since inhibiting both pathways blocked the increase in intracellular calcium ion in recipient VSMC. In contrast, matrix vesicles isolated from the media had no effect on the intracellular calcium ion concentration or MEK1 signaling, and did not induce calcification. However, media matrix vesicles did increase Erk1/2, although not to the level of cellular matrix vesicles, and NOX1 expression. Blockade of NOX activity further inhibited the cellular matrix vesicle–induced accelerated calcification of recipient VSMC, suggesting a potential therapeutic role of such inhibition. Thus, addition of cellular-derived matrix vesicles from calcifying VSMC can accelerate calcification by inducing cell signaling changes and phenotypic alteration of recipient VSMC.