An ncBAF-ETS2 Chromatin-Remodelling Axis Drives Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Osteogenic Reprogramming in Vascular Calcification

Abstract

Introduction: Vascular calcification is a detrimental ageing-related pathology that is markedly accelerated in metabolic disorders. It is driven by osteogenic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), however epigenetic regulatory pathways activated early in this transition remain poorly defined. Methods: An in vitro calcification model was developed using primary human aortic VSMCs cultured with or without mineral stress. Epigenetic changes were assessed using targeted PCR arrays and CUT&RUN sequencing. Key findings were validated in vivo using single-cell sequencing datasets from human large arteries and spatial transcriptomic analysis in atherosclerotic carotid plaques. Transcriptomic and CUT&RUN analyses identified gene targets altered by epigenetic remodelling, and molecular tools were applied to study effects on metabolism, inflammation, apoptosis, and calcification. Results: During early calcification in response to mineral stress, SWI/SNF chromatin remodelling complexes shift toward ncBAF enrichment in pre-osteogenic VSMCs. ncBAF complexes activated transcriptional programs involved in inflammation, apoptosis, and glycolysis-all hallmarks of calcifying VSMCs. The transcription factor ETS2 was identified as a novel component of ncBAF complexes. Disruption of ncBAF or ETS2 impaired osteogenic differentiation and calcification. Notably, ETS2 expression was regulated by ncBAF, forming a positive feedback loop that reinforced VSMC phenotypic switching. Co-activation of ETS2 and ncBAF and the resulting transcriptional shifts were confirmed in human arterial single-cell datasets, with osteogenic/inflammatory clusters showing NFkB and RUNX2 activation. Spatial transcriptomics further suggested that a macrophage-rich microenvironment may promote the differentiation of smooth muscle cells toward an overt osteogenic/inflammatory phenotype. Immunohistochemistry showed that ETS2 levels correlated with calcification severity in human vessels supporting the potential clinical relevance of ETS2. Conclusions: Our findings identify a novel epigenetic mechanism in vascular calcification, where ncBAF and ETS2 cooperate to drive VSMC phenotypic switching. This ncBAF-ETS2 axis represents a potential therapeutic target to modulate VSMC plasticity and intervene early in the progression of cardiovascular calcification.