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The extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is a G-protein coupled receptor central to systemic Ca2+ homeostasis in mammals. We have previously shown that CaSR is expressed in primary bovine aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Furthermore, dominant-negative adenoviral knockdown of this receptor in bovine VSMCs in vitro causes enhanced calcification in the presence of culture conditions which mimic vascular calcification in vivo. Using mineralising conditions in vitro, we have also previously demonstrated that positive pharmacological allosteric activation of CaSR using the calcimimetic, R-568, significantly reduces calcification of bovine VSMCs. These findings now implicate the CaSR, not just in systemic Ca2+ homeostasis, but also in potential protection against vascular calcification; a condition associated with increased blood pressure, left ventricular hypertrophy, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular morbidity. Using a specific targeted deletion strategy, we have developed CaSR-specific knockout in VSMCs driven by the SM22α promoter. Using in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo approaches, here, I have characterised the cardiovascular phenotype of this novel transgenic mouse model. In vivo data demonstrate that ablation of CaSR from VSMCs causes hyperkalaemia at 3 months of age and hypercalcaemia throughout life. 3 month old CaSR-VSMC Knockout (KO) mice also exhibit reduced bone mineral integrity and increased heart weight at the age of 18 months. Ex vivo analysis implicates the VSMC-CaSR as a modulator of blood vessel tone. CaSR-VSMC KO mice exhibit reduced luminal diameters of the aorta and …