The role of sclerostin in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases- a potential biomarker?

IF 2.5 4区医学 Q3 MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL

Advances in medical sciences Pub Date : 2025-10-01 Epub Date: 2025-10-28 DOI:10.1016/j.advms.2025.10.003

Sebastian Stelmaszek, Ewa Tarasiuk, Małgorzata Knapp, Remigiusz Kazimierczyk, Anna Lisowska

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Abstract

Sclerostin, a glycoprotein primarily synthesized by osteocytes, is a key regulator of bone remodeling through its inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Beyond its established role in bone metabolism, sclerostin has been identified in vascular tissues, including smooth muscle cells of blood vessels, suggesting a potential role in cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Research on sclerostin's role in CVD has yielded conflicting results, highlighting its complex involvement in vascular calcification and atherosclerosis.

Some studies associate elevated sclerostin levels with a reduced risk of cardiovascular events, potentially due to its inhibition of pathways driving vascular calcification and osteogenic transformation of vascular cells. Conversely, other research links higher sclerostin levels with increased cardiovascular risk, including atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and stroke, possibly reflecting a compensatory response to vascular damage or inflammation.

Discrepancies in findings may stem from differences in study populations, methodologies, and confounding factors such as age, renal function, and medication use. Furthermore, sclerostin's dual effects may depend on specific pathological contexts, complicating its interpretation as a biomarker.

This review examines the evidence for sclerostin's role in CVD and its potential utility as a biomarker for cardiovascular risk stratification. While emerging data suggest diagnostic and therapeutic relevance, particularly in populations with chronic kidney disease or metabolic disorders, further research is necessary to elucidate its mechanisms, identify modulating factors, and assess its clinical value. A clearer understanding of sclerostin's vascular effects could pave the way for novel approaches to cardiovascular disease prevention and management.

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硬化蛋白在心血管疾病发生发展中的作用——一个潜在的生物标志物？

硬化蛋白（Sclerostin）是一种主要由骨细胞合成的糖蛋白，通过抑制Wnt/β-catenin信号通路，是骨重塑的关键调节因子。除了在骨代谢中已确定的作用外，还在血管组织（包括血管平滑肌细胞）中发现了硬化蛋白，这表明它在心血管疾病（CVD）中具有潜在作用。关于硬化蛋白在心血管疾病中的作用的研究产生了相互矛盾的结果，强调了它在血管钙化和动脉粥样硬化中的复杂参与。一些研究将升高的硬化蛋白水平与降低心血管事件的风险联系起来，这可能是由于它抑制了驱动血管钙化和血管细胞成骨转化的途径。相反，其他研究将较高的硬化蛋白水平与心血管风险增加联系起来，包括动脉粥样硬化、心肌梗死和中风，这可能反映了对血管损伤或炎症的代偿反应。结果的差异可能源于研究人群、方法和混杂因素（如年龄、肾功能和药物使用）的差异。此外，硬化蛋白的双重作用可能取决于特定的病理背景，使其作为生物标志物的解释复杂化。这篇综述探讨了硬化蛋白在心血管疾病中的作用及其作为心血管风险分层生物标志物的潜在用途。虽然新出现的数据表明诊断和治疗的相关性，特别是在慢性肾脏疾病或代谢紊乱人群中，但需要进一步的研究来阐明其机制，确定调节因素，并评估其临床价值。更清楚地了解硬化蛋白的血管作用可以为心血管疾病预防和管理的新方法铺平道路。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Advances in medical sciences 医学-医学：研究与实验

CiteScore

5.00

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

25 days

期刊介绍： Advances in Medical Sciences is an international, peer-reviewed journal that welcomes original research articles and reviews on current advances in life sciences, preclinical and clinical medicine, and related disciplines. The Journal’s primary aim is to make every effort to contribute to progress in medical sciences. The strive is to bridge laboratory and clinical settings with cutting edge research findings and new developments. Advances in Medical Sciences publishes articles which bring novel insights into diagnostic and molecular imaging, offering essential prior knowledge for diagnosis and treatment indispensable in all areas of medical sciences. It also publishes articles on pathological sciences giving foundation knowledge on the overall study of human diseases. Through its publications Advances in Medical Sciences also stresses the importance of pharmaceutical sciences as a rapidly and ever expanding area of research on drug design, development, action and evaluation contributing significantly to a variety of scientific disciplines. The journal welcomes submissions from the following disciplines: General and internal medicine, Cancer research, Genetics, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine, Immunology and Allergy, Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Cell and molecular Biology, Haematology, Biochemistry, Clinical and Experimental Pathology.