Autophagy is Involved in Progression of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Calcification Induced by Ox-LDL

【Objective】 To determine whether autophagy is involved in the process of vascular smooth muscle cell calcification induced by Ox-LDL. 【Methods】 The in vitro model of vascular calcification was used in this study. Vascular smooth muscle cells were randomly divided into controls,an Ox-LDL-treated group,and a 3MA plus Ox-LDL-treated group. Cells were grown in DMEM supplemented with 10 mM BGP. Calcification was assessed by alizarin red staining. The mRNA and protein expression of cbfa1 and Beclin1 were analyzed by Q-PCR and Western blotting respectively. 【Results】 Ox-LDL promotes vascular smooth muscle cell calcification,up-regulates the mRNA and protein expression of cbfa1 and Beclin1. The specific autophagy inhibitor attenuates vascular calcification,and inhibits the up-regulation of cbfa1 and Beclin1 expression induced by Ox-LDL. 【Conclusion】 The pathogenesis of vascular smooth muscle cell calcification induced by Ox-LDL involves autophagy.