Role of vitamin K-dependent proteins in the arterial vessel wall

Hamostaseologie. 2011 Nov;31(4):251-7. doi: 10.5482/ha-1157. Epub 2011 Jun 29.

Abstract

Vitamin K was discovered early last century at the same time as the vitamin K-antagonists. For many years the role of vitamin K was solely ascribed to coagulation and coagulation was thought to be involved only at the venous blood side. This view has dramatically changed with the discovery of vitamin K-dependent proteins outside the coagulation cascade and the role of coagulation factors at the arterial side. Vitamin K-dependent proteins are involved in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell migration, apoptosis, and calcification. Vascular calcification has become an important independent predictor of cardiovascular disease. Vitamin K-antagonists induce inactivity of inhibitors of vascular calcification, leading to accelerated calcification. The involvement of vitamin K-dependent proteins such as MGP in vascular calcification make that calcification is amendable for intervention with high intake of vitamin K. This review focuses on the effect of vitamin K-dependent proteins in vascular disease.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anticoagulants / metabolism*
  • Arterial Occlusive Diseases / metabolism*
  • Arteries / metabolism*
  • Blood Coagulation Factors / metabolism*
  • Blood Proteins / metabolism*
  • Calcinosis / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Models, Cardiovascular
  • Vitamin K / metabolism*

Substances

  • Anticoagulants
  • Blood Coagulation Factors
  • Blood Proteins
  • Vitamin K