Nicotine promotes vascular calcification via intracellular Ca2+-mediated, Nox5-induced oxidative stress, and extracellular vesicle release in vascular smooth muscle cells.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Smokers are at increased risk of cardiovascular events. However, the exact mechanisms through which smoking influences cardiovascular disease resulting in accelerated atherosclerosis and vascular calcification are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of nicotine on initiation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) calcification and to elucidate underlying mechanisms.

Methods and results

We assessed vascular calcification of 62 carotid lesions of both smoking and non-smoking patients using ex vivo micro-computed tomography (µCT) scanning. Calcification was present more often in carotid plaques of smokers (n = 22 of 30, 73.3%) compared to non-smokers (n = 11 of 32, 34.3%; P < 0.001), confirming higher atherosclerotic burden. The difference was particul

SUBMITTER: Petsophonsakul P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9302892 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature