The role of calcification regulatory proteins in the arterial stiffening of chronic kidney disease stages 3 & 4

Abstract

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is common and is associated with an increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality which is not completely explained by traditional risk factors. Non-traditional risk factors include arterial stiffening and calcification. Several calcification regulatory proteins (CaRP) are implicated in arterial stiffening. Fetuin-A may be important in inhibiting mineralisation via physicochemical interaction with calcium and phosphate, and can form circulating CalciProtein Particles (CPP) in pro-calcific states. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) & Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor K-B Ligand (RANKL) control bone resorption and are also expressed in the vasculature. They may be important in vascular calcification. Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) promotes urinary phosphate excretion and is also thought to be implicated in vascular disease. This study tests the hypotheses that these CaRP are associated with aortic stiffening in pre-dialysis CKD, and that CaRP and/or arterial stiffening are associated with outcomes.

Date of Award	Mar 2012
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Brighton