Hepatic Steatosis Aggravates Vascular Calcification via Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Osteochondrogenic Switch of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells.

ABSTRACT: The global incidence of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has risen sharply. This condition is strongly associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but how MAFLD affects the development and progression of CVD, particularly concerning vascular calcification, remains unclear. Herein, extracellular vesicles (EVs) are identified from steatotic hepatocytes as a trigger that accelerated the progression of both vascular intimal and medial calcification. Steatotic hepatocytes are found to release more EVs, which are able to reach the vascular tissue, be taken up by vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), and promote their osteogenic differentiation. Within these toxic vesicles, a protein cargo is identified called lectin galactoside-binding soluble 3 binding

SUBMITTER: Zeng ZL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11791995 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature