Targeting adenosine 2A receptor signaling suppresses vascular calcification by restraining smooth muscle osteogenic differentiation

Nov 7, 2025Pharmacological research

Blocking a specific receptor signal may reduce blood vessel hardening by stopping muscle cells from turning into bone-like cells

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Abstract

ADORA2A expression was significantly upregulated in calcified human and murine aortic tissues.

Vascular calcification is linked to cardiovascular issues, particularly in chronic kidney disease patients.
Genetic deletion or pharmacological blocking of ADORA2A reduced aortic calcification and osteogenic marker expression in models of vascular calcification.
Overexpression of ADORA2A increased osteogenic differentiation and calcification in vascular smooth muscle cells.
ADORA2A may facilitate osteogenic differentiation by enhancing the interaction between specific proteins involved in gene transcription.
The findings suggest that targeting ADORA2A could help reduce vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease.

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Vascular calcification (VC) is a major contributor to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, particularly in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Adenosine 2 A receptor (ADORA2A) is highly expressed in vascular cells and implicated in cardiovascular disease; however, its specific role in VC pathogenesis remains unclear. Here, we investigated the role of ADORA2A using in vitro (vascular smooth muscle cells; VSMCs), ex vivo (mouse aortic rings), and in vivo (5/6th nephrectomy with high phosphate and cholecalciferol) models of VC. The ADORA2A expression was significantly upregulated in calcified human and murine aortic tissues, as well as in VSMCs, under osteogenic conditions. Genetic deletion of Adora2a (global or VSMC-specific) or pharmacological antagonism of ADORA2A markedly attenuated aortic calcification and the expression of osteogenic markers in vivo. Consistent findings were observed in in vitro and ex vivo models. Conversely, ADORA2A overexpression exacerbated the osteogenic differentiation and calcification of VSMCs. Mechanistically, ADORA2A promoted VSMC osteogenic differentiation by facilitating cAMP-responsive element-binding protein 1 (CREB1) binding to the runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) promoter, thereby enhancing RUNX2 transcription and subsequent mineralization. Our findings reveal that ADORA2A drives VC through the cAMP/CREB1/RUNX2 signaling axis in VSMCs. Therefore, targeting ADORA2A represents a potential strategy for mitigating VC in CKD.

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Targeting adenosine 2A receptor signaling suppresses vascular calcification by restraining smooth muscle osteogenic differentiation

Abstract

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