Table 3. Changes in expression of Wnt/β-catenin target genes in Mgp-/- compared to wild-type aortic tissue.
| Gene | Protein | Fold change | p-value | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abcb1a | Transmembrane glycoprotein | 6.41** | 0.005 | ATP-binding cassette |
| Abr | Aryl-hydrocarbon receptor | 3.04* | 0.043 | Transcription factor |
| Birc5 | Survivin | 3.67*** | 0.001 | Inhibitor of apoptosis |
| Cacna2d3 | 3.02* | 0.035 | Calcium channel | |
| Cd44 | 2.93** | 0.008 | Receptor for ECM | |
| Cdkn2a | Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor | 5.32* | 0.016 | Cell cycle |
| Cdon | Cell adhesion molecule | 2.47** | 0.007 | Shh receptor |
| Cubn | Cobalamin and vitamin B12 receptor | 2.58* | 0.013 | |
| Enpp2 | Autotaxin | 5.32*** | 0.001 | Lysophospholipase |
| Foxn1 | Forkhead box N1 | 6.30* | 0.026 | Cell growth and proliferation |
| Mmp9 | Matrix metalloproteinase 9 | 4.16* | 0.036 | VSMC migration/proliferation [63] |
| Nanog | 13.94* | 0.041 | “stem-like” phenotype | |
| Tcf4 | 3.89*** | 0.001 | Transcription factor | |
| Chondro/Osteogenic differentiation | ||||
| Dkk1 | Dickkopf 1 | 9.85** | 0.007 | Wnt inhibitor, negative regulator of osteogenesis [64] |
| Fgf9 | Fibroblast growth factor 9 | 4.14* | 0.036 | Chondrocyte hypertrophy [65,66] |
| Gdf5 | Growth differentiation factor 5 | 5.02* | 0.046 | Osteogenic differentiation [67,68] |
| Met | Receptor for hepatocyte growth factor | 2.00* | 0.028 | Osteogenic transformation in VSMC, bone/cartilage formation [69,70] |
| Mmp2 | Matrix metalloproteinase 2 | 3.48** | 0.010 | Required for mineralization in VSMC [71] |
| Plaur | Plasminogen activator, urokinase (uPAR) receptor | 3.84* | 0.015 | VSMC de-differentiation in [72] |
| T | Brachyury | 3.38* | 0.020 | Chondrogenic differentiation [73] |
| Wisp1 | WNT1-inducible signaling protein 1 | 4.30** | 0.008 | Osteoblast differentiation, represses chondrogenesis [74] |
| Endothelial genes | ||||
| Cdh1 | E-cadherin | 6.19*** | 0.001 | |
| Dlk1 | Delta-like 1 homolog | 5.84* | 0.038 | Non-canonical Notch ligand, inhibits angiogenesis [75] |
| Nrcam | Neuron-glia-CAM-related cell adhesion molecule | 16.14*** | 0.001 | Cell communication, angiogenesis [76] |
| Down-regulated genes | ||||
| Ccnd2 | Cyclin D2 | -1.39* | 0.040 | Proliferation |
| Fzd7 | Frizzled 7 | -4.05* | 0.043 | Non-canonical β-catenin signaling [77] |
| Gja1 | Connexin 43 | -2.99* | 0.013 | Supports bone formation [78–80] |
| Igf2 | Insulin-like growth factor 2 | -3.49* | 0.047 | Enhances osteogenic capacity of hMSCs [81] |
Aortic tissue from 4.5 week old animals was analyzed using a qRT-PCR-based microarray. N=6. * p<0.05; ** p<0.01; *** p<0.001.