Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The analysis of the signaling pathways involved in vascular calcification is difficult due largely to the limitation in obtaining vascular tissue samples. Therefore, the use of bioinformatics tools for the identification of potential biomarkers associated with vascular calcification is an advantage for the advancement in the knowledge of the molecular pathways involved in this pathology.

Objective: Increase understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in vascular calcification processes and to identify potential molecular targets for diagnostic and therapeutic use through the use of bioinformatic resources.

Methods: Calcified femoral artery sections from 7 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus and critical ischemia were used for the study of the proteome by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The set of identified proteins was faced with the set of proteins of 19 similar vascular pathologies described in other studies. In this way, a biological network of proteins associated with vascular calcification was created. The use of bioinformatic tools such as Cytohubba and String allowed to identify a potential genetic signature on which proteins of high degree of centrality and possible subrogated markers were determined.

Results: 751 proteins were identified in the characteristic proteome of calcified femoral artery. Seventy one of themwere common proteinsof similar pathologies. The centrality analysis of the common proteins showed that APOE, HP, CAT, MPO and ACTB proteins had the highest value in the centrality ranking. The study of the protein-protein interaction network determined that HSPD1, HSP90B1, SERPINC1, HADHB and PDIA3 could be potential subrogated markers of vascular calcification.

Conclusions: The identified proteins with involvement in vascular pathologies play an important role in processes related to bone mineralization. Therefore, the study of these proteins could be a therapeutic strategy for the joint treatment of vascular and bone pathologies.