Advanced Glycation End-Products Increase Calcification in Rat Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Aim To investigate the effects of advanced glycation end products(AGE) on calcification in cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMC). Methods To induce calcification,VSMC were treated with 10 mmol/L β-glycerophosphate(β-GP) with the indicated concentrations of AGE-BSA or non-glycated BSA for various periods of time.Calcium deposition,the activity and mRNA expression of alkaline phosphatase(ALP),as well as core band factor α-1(Cbfα-1) and osteopontin(OPN) were used to identify osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization in VSMC induced by AGE-BSA. Results AGE increased calcium deposition in VSMC in time-and dose-dependent manners.Mechanistic studies revealed that elevated AGE treatment of VSMC enhanced the activity and mRNA of alkaline phosphatase,as well as the expression of Cbfα-1 and its downstream protein osteopontin. Conclusion The results suggest that AGE accumulated in diabetes could elicit the osteoblastic differentiation of VSMC,thereby contributing to vascular calcification.