Salvianolate inhibits calcification in vascular smooth muscle cells

Objective To study the effects of salvianolate on the calcification in rat vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs).Methods Calcification of cultured rat VSMCs was prepared by incubation with β-glycerophosphate.Calcification was confirmed by measurement of calcium content and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity in VSMCs.The mRNA and protein levels of BMP-2 were detected by using real-time PCR and Western blotting,respectively.Results Compared with control group,3.92-fold calcium content and 10.5-fold increase in ALP activity were observed in calcified VSMCs group,respectively.Levels of mRNA and protein of BMP-2 were significantly increased in calcified group.Salvianolate decreased the calcium and ALP activity in a dose-dependent manner,these data were decreased by 32.3 %,42.2%,60.9%(P 0.05);36.4%,48.8% and 74.7%(P 0.01),respectively.And salvianolate decreased the mRNA and protein levels of BMP-2.Conclusion Salvianolate may have cardiovascular protecting effect by antagonizing vascular calcification,maybe by regulating BMP-2 level.