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Endocrine Abstracts (2016) 41 EP232 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.41.EP232

1Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; 2Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; 3Division of Transplantation Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; 4CBmed, Center for Biomarker Research in Medicine, Graz, Austria.


Pathophysiological calcification in the vasculature favours cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases. In patients with chronic kidney disease vitamin K metabolites are associated with decreased vascular calcification.

We investigated the expression of the vitamin K dependent proteins PRRG1-4 in vessels and bone to identify differences in expression pattern during atherosclerosis (AS) stages and compare the two tissue profiles.

Gene expression levels of PRRG1-4 were examined with predesigned TaqMan assays on a LC480 system in vessels (external iliac artery and aorta) and bone of 26 organ donors. Relative Cp values were obtained by division with beta actin.

Determination of calcification stages was done histologically: no changes: unaffected vessels, intima thickening: more than onefold intima thickening without calcification, intima calcification: one or more calcification spots.

Gene expression of PRRG1 decreased in bone compared to vessels in atherosclerosis (P=0.001).

In vessels gene expression of PRRG1, 3 and 4 were decreased in atherosclerosis compared to normal state (P=0.002, P=0.011, P=0.011). In bone gene expression of PRRG1-4 did not change when atherosclerotic vessels were present.

Looking at three stages of atherosclerosis, no differences in gene expression of PRRG1-4 are seen in intima thickening, in intima calcification PRRG1 (P=0.001) show differences in gene expression in bone and vessels.

In vessels PRRG1 (P=0.013), 3 (P=0.048) and 4 (P=0.049) gene expression decreased during intima thickening and keeps low in the calcification stage. In bone gene expression of PRRG1-4 did not change during AS progression.

Gene expression of vitamin K dependent proteins changes during calcification of the vessel wall implicating a more complex role of vitamin K dependent proteins in vascular calcification than previously known.

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