MGP Involved in Varicose Vein Development

NANTES, France—Over-expression of a vitamin K-dependent protein may contribute to increased mineralization in the smooth muscle cells of the vein wall and related development of varicose veins (J Vascul Res. 2007;44:444-59; DOI:10.1159/000106189). In a study coordinated out of Université de Nantes, researchers identified over-expression of genes known to be associated with extracellular matrix remodeling. Overexpression of matrix Gla protein (MGP) transcript was associated with increased MGP levels in varicose veins, contributing to venous wall remodeling by affecting proliferation and mineralization processes through impaired carboxylation of MGP. In addition, smooth muscle cells from varicose veins showed increased proliferation rate and enhanced matrix mineralization. The researchers concluded in varicose veins the local vascular vitamin K status was insufficient to activate all MGP, and that supplementation could restore the activity of MGP.

According to Leon Schurgers, Ph.D., one of the authors of the paper, “Defects in the vein wall are indicated in varicosis, with a central role for the vitamin K-dependent protein MGP. MGP is important in relation to the health of the entire cardiovascular system. Previous studies demonstrated the importance of MGP and vitamin K for the arterial vessel wall, and now we show MGP and vitamin K could play a significant role in varicose veins. In addition to human studies showing significantly reduced cardiovascular risk factors with vitamin K2 consumption, this study builds upon our understanding of the mechanisms of MGP.”