1
|
Ralph D, Levine M, Millán JL, Uitto J, Li Q. Weighing the Evidence for the Roles of Plasma Versus Local Pyrophosphate in Ectopic Calcification Disorders. J Bone Miner Res 2023; 38:457-463. [PMID: 36807615 PMCID: PMC10365072 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.4791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Ectopic calcification is characterized by inappropriate deposition of calcium mineral in nonskeletal connective tissues and can cause significant morbidity and mortality, particularly when it affects the cardiovascular system. Identification of the metabolic and genetic determinants of ectopic calcification could help distinguish individuals at the greatest risk of developing these pathological calcifications and could guide development of medical interventions. Inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi ) has long been recognized as the most potent endogenous inhibitor of biomineralization. It has been intensively studied as both a marker and a potential therapeutic for ectopic calcification. Decreased extracellular concentrations of PPi have been proposed to be a unifying pathophysiological mechanism for disorders of ectopic calcification, both genetic and acquired. However, are reduced plasma concentrations of PPi a reliable predictor of ectopic calcification? This perspective article evaluates the literature in favor and against a pathophysiological role of plasma versus tissue PPi dysregulation as a determinant of, and as a biomarker for, ectopic calcification. © 2023 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Ralph
- Genetics, Genomics and Cancer Biology Ph.D. Program, Jefferson College of Life Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Jefferson Institute of Molecular Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,PXE International Center of Excellence in Research and Clinical Care, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Michael Levine
- Division of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - José Luis Millán
- Sanford Children's Health Research Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jouni Uitto
- Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Jefferson Institute of Molecular Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,PXE International Center of Excellence in Research and Clinical Care, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Qiaoli Li
- Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Jefferson Institute of Molecular Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,PXE International Center of Excellence in Research and Clinical Care, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Van Gils M, Willaert A, Coucke PJ, Vanakker OM. The Abcc6a Knockout Zebrafish Model as a Novel Tool for Drug Screening for Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:822143. [PMID: 35317004 PMCID: PMC8934400 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.822143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a multisystem ectopic mineralization disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the ABCC6 gene. Though complications of the disease can be treated, PXE itself remains currently intractable. A strategy for rapid and cost-effective discovery of therapeutic drugs would be to perform chemical compound screening using zebrafish, but this approach remains to be validated for PXE. In this paper, we validate a stable CRISPR/Cas9 abcc6a knockout zebrafish model–which has spinal column hypermineralization as its primary phenotypic feature–as a model system for compound screening in ectopic mineralization. We evaluated the anti-mineralization potential of five compounds, which had (anecdotal) positive effects reported in Abcc6 knockout mice and/or PXE patients. Abcc6a knockout zebrafish larvae were treated from 3 to 10 days post-fertilization with vitamin K1, sodium thiosulfate, etidronate, alendronate or magnesium citrate and compared to matching controls. Following alizarin red S staining, alterations in notochord sheath mineralization were semiquantified and found to largely congrue with the originally reported outcomes. Our results demonstrate that the use of this abcc6a knockout zebrafish model is a validated and promising strategy for drug discovery against ectopic mineralization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M. Van Gils
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - A. Willaert
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - P. J. Coucke
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - O. M. Vanakker
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- *Correspondence: O. M. Vanakker,
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Therapy of Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9121895. [PMID: 34944710 PMCID: PMC8698611 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9121895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a rare, genetic, metabolic disease with an estimated prevalence of between 1 per 25,000 and 56,000. Its main hallmarks are characteristic skin lesions, development of choroidal neovascularization, and early-onset arterial calcification accompanied by a severe reduction in quality-of-life. Underlying the pathology are recessively transmitted pathogenic variants of the ABCC6 gene, which results in a deficiency of ABCC6 protein. This results in reduced levels of peripheral pyrophosphate, a strong inhibitor of peripheral calcification, but also dysregulation of blood lipids. Although various treatment options have emerged during the last 20 years, many are either already outdated or not yet ready to be applied generally. Clinical physicians often are left stranded while patients suffer from the consequences of outdated therapies, or feel unrecognized by their attending doctors who may feel uncertain about using new therapeutic approaches or not even know about them. In this review, we summarize the broad spectrum of treatment options for PXE, focusing on currently available clinical options, the latest research and development, and future perspectives.
Collapse
|
4
|
Lillo E, Gutierrez-Cardo A, Murcia-Casas B, Carrillo-Linares JL, Garcia-Argüello F, Chicharo de Freitas R, Baquero-Aranda I, Valdivielso P, García-Fernández M, Sánchez-Chaparro MÁ. Cutaneous and Vascular Deposits of 18F-NaF by PET/CT in the Follow-Up of Patients with Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10122588. [PMID: 34208205 PMCID: PMC8230828 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10122588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Active microcalcification of elastic fibers is a hallmark of pseudoxanthoma elasticum and it can be measured with the assessment of deposition of 18F-NaF using a PET/CT scan at the skin and vascular levels. It is not known whether this deposition changes over time in absence of specific therapy. We repeated in two years a PET/CT scan using 18F-NaF as a radiopharmaceutical in patients with the disease and compared the deposition at skin and vessel. Furthermore, calcium score values at the vessel wall were also assessed. Main results indicate in the vessel walls that calcification progressed in each patient; by contrast, the active microcalcification, measured and target-to-background ratio showed reduced active deposition. By contrast, at skin levels (neck and axillae) the uptake of the pharmaceutical remains unchanged. In conclusion, because calcification in the arterial wall is not specific for pseudoxanthoma elasticum condition, the measurement of the deposition of 18F-NaF in the neck might be potentially used as a surrogate marker in future trials for the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Lillo
- Molecular Imaging Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Médico Sanitarias (CIMES), Fundación General de la Universidad de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain; (E.L.); (R.C.d.F.)
| | - Antonio Gutierrez-Cardo
- Nuclear Medicine Department, Regional Hospital, 29010 Malaga, Spain;
- Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga (IBIMA), 29010 Malaga, Spain; (J.L.C.-L.); (F.G.-A.); (M.G.-F.); (M.Á.S.-C.)
| | - Belén Murcia-Casas
- Internal Medicine Unit, Virgen de la Victoria Hospital, 29010 Malaga, Spain;
| | - Juan Luis Carrillo-Linares
- Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga (IBIMA), 29010 Malaga, Spain; (J.L.C.-L.); (F.G.-A.); (M.G.-F.); (M.Á.S.-C.)
- Internal Medicine Unit, Virgen de la Victoria Hospital, 29010 Malaga, Spain;
| | - Francisco Garcia-Argüello
- Molecular Imaging Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Médico Sanitarias (CIMES), Fundación General de la Universidad de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain; (E.L.); (R.C.d.F.)
- Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga (IBIMA), 29010 Malaga, Spain; (J.L.C.-L.); (F.G.-A.); (M.G.-F.); (M.Á.S.-C.)
| | - Reinaldo Chicharo de Freitas
- Molecular Imaging Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Médico Sanitarias (CIMES), Fundación General de la Universidad de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain; (E.L.); (R.C.d.F.)
| | | | - Pedro Valdivielso
- Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga (IBIMA), 29010 Malaga, Spain; (J.L.C.-L.); (F.G.-A.); (M.G.-F.); (M.Á.S.-C.)
- Internal Medicine Unit, Virgen de la Victoria Hospital, 29010 Malaga, Spain;
- Department of Medicine and Dermatology, University of Malaga, 29010 Malaga, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-952131615; Fax: +34-952131511
| | - María García-Fernández
- Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga (IBIMA), 29010 Malaga, Spain; (J.L.C.-L.); (F.G.-A.); (M.G.-F.); (M.Á.S.-C.)
- Department of Human Physiology, University of Malaga, 29010 Malaga, Spain
| | - Miguel Ángel Sánchez-Chaparro
- Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga (IBIMA), 29010 Malaga, Spain; (J.L.C.-L.); (F.G.-A.); (M.G.-F.); (M.Á.S.-C.)
- Internal Medicine Unit, Virgen de la Victoria Hospital, 29010 Malaga, Spain;
- Department of Medicine and Dermatology, University of Malaga, 29010 Malaga, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Valdivielso P, Jacinto M, Devernois G, Laplana J, García-Fernández M, Martin L. Role of patients associations in connective tissue calcifiying diseases: a position statement from EuroSoftCalc.Net group. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2021; 16:71. [PMID: 33557904 PMCID: PMC7869194 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-021-01703-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients have been showing a growing interest in taking active participation in decision making, and having the opportunity to drive clinical investigation. This is more common for patients who have a rare disease than for those with more prevalent diseases. The EuroSoftCalc.Net COST Action, a group of clinicians and researchers involved in the dystrophic calcification process held a meeting in which three representatives of patients’ associations, coming from Portugal, France and Spain, discussed the role of patients and their associations, namely in the Action, and also the main concerns in their countries. The disparities in health care between European Union countries with regard to connective tissue calcifying diseases, and the existing conflicts of interest, were a matter of debate during the meeting. As a consequence of the presentations and the debate that followed, it became clear that, despite their countries, the main concerns of the patients are identical, namely a lack of specific therapy and follow-up clinical guidelines, delays in the diagnosis, difficulties in getting members to enrol to associations, and/or difficulties with doctors’ explanations for the diseases. The attendees also agreed that EuroSoftCalc.Net group should help to set up new associations where no Patient Associations presently exist, and, furthermore, should release diagnosis and follow-up guidelines, especially helpful in countries, and/or for diseases, where no multidisciplinary consultations are available.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Valdivielso
- Departamento de Medicina y Dermatología, School of Medicine, Spain and Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Facultad de Medicina, University of Málaga, Boulevard Luis Pasteur 32, 29071, Málaga, Spain.
| | - Marta Jacinto
- Associação Pseudoxantoma Elástico Portugal, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Jorge Laplana
- Asociación Española de Afectados Por Pseudoxantoma Elástico, Malaga, Spain
| | - Maria García-Fernández
- Departamento de Medicina y Dermatología, School of Medicine, Spain and Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Facultad de Medicina, University of Málaga, Boulevard Luis Pasteur 32, 29071, Málaga, Spain
| | - Ludovic Martin
- PXE Consultation Center, MAGEC Nord Reference Center for Rare Skin Diseases, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France
| |
Collapse
|