Molecular Imaging and Quantification of Smooth Muscle Cell and Aortic Tissue Calcification In Vitro and Ex Vivo with a Fluorescent Hydroxyapatite-Specific Probe

Abstract

Vessel calcification is characterized by the precipitation of hydroxyapatite (HAP) in the vasculature. Currently, no causal therapy exists to reduce or prevent vessel calcification. Studying the underlying pathways within vascular smooth muscle cells and testing pharmacological intervention is a major challenge in the vascular research field. This study aims to establish a rapid and efficient working protocol for specific HAP detection in cells and tissue using the synthetic bisphosphonate fluorescence dye OsteoSense™. This protocol facilitates especially early quantification of the fluorescence signal and permits co-staining with other markers of interest, enabling smaller experimental set-ups with lesser primary cells consumption and fast workflows. The fluorescence-based detection of vascular calcification with OsteoSense™ combines a high specificity with improved sensitivity. Therefore, this methodology can improve research of the pathogenesis of vascular calcification, especially for testing the therapeutic benefit of inhibitors in the case of in vitro and ex vivo settings.

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) activation promotes osteogenic transition of valve interstitial cells and accelerates heart valve calcification in chronic kidney disease (CKD)

“…In agreement with our results using the same mice model Dargam et al recently detected VC by S2 heart sound 34 . The synthetic bisphosphonate fluorescence dye OsteoSense™ that binds specifically to hydroxyapatite, is getting more recognition in the detection of vascular calcification 27,35 . Here we succeeded to use OsteoSense™ to assess hydroxyapatite deposition in the heart tissue ( Figure 1F ).…”