A CEBPB/miR-32–5p/GATA6 axis promotes vascular calcification in type 2 diabetes

Vascular calcification in diabetes patients is a major independent risk factor for developing diabetic cardiovascular complications. However, the mechanisms by which diabetes leads to vascular calcification are complex and not yet fully understood. Our previous study revealed that miR-32–5p is a potential new diagnostic marker for coronary artery calcification. In this study, we found that miR-32–5p levels were significantly greater in the plasma of type 2 diabetes patients with coronary artery calcification and were positively correlated with the coronary artery calcification score. In type 2 diabetic mice, miR-32–5p levels were also elevated in the aorta, and knockout of miR-32–5p inhibited the osteogenic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells in vivo. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-32–5p promoted vascular smooth muscle cell calcification, while antagonism of miR-32–5p inhibited vascular smooth muscle cell calcification under high-glucose conditions. GATA binding protein 6 (GATA6) was identified as the key target gene through which miR-32–5p promotes vascular smooth muscle cell calcification. Overexpression of GATA6 antagonized the effects of miR-32–5p on vascular calcification. Additionally, high glucose levels were shown to induce the upregulation of miR-32–5p by activating CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (CEBPB). These results suggest that miR-32–5p is an important procalcification factor in vascular calcification associated with type 2 diabetes and identify the CEBPB/miR-32–5p/GATA6 axis as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for preventing and treating vascular calcification in type 2 diabetes.