Abstract: In this paper, we investigate the effect and the possible mechanism of high glucose levels on the calcification of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs). HASMCs were divided into four groups: normal glucose group (NG), osmolality control group (OC), high glucose group (HG, HASMCs culture medium containing 30 mmol/L glucose), and high glucose plus recombinant human Noggin protein (bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) antagonist) group (HN). The mRNA levels and the protein expressions of BMP-2 and core binding factor alpha-1 (Cbfα-1) were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot. After induced by 10 mmol/L β-glycerol phosphoric acid, cells were harvested for assessments of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities at Days 1, 2, and 3, and intracellular calcium contents at Days 7 and 14, respectively. High glucose levels increased the mRNA levels and the protein expressions of BMP-2 and Cbfα-1 (P<0.05). The expression of Cbfα-1 was partially blocked by Noggin protein (P<0.05), while BMP-2 was not (P>0.05). After being induced by β-glycerol phosphoric acid, high glucose levels increased the ALP activity [(48.63±1.03) vs. (41.42±2.28) U/mg protein, Day 3; P<0.05] and the intracellular calcium content [(2.76±0.09) vs. (1.75±0.07) μmol/mg protein, Day 14; P<0.05] in a time-dependent manner when compared with the NG group, while the ALP activity could not be blocked by Noggin protein [(48.63±1.03) vs. (47.37±0.97) U/mg protein, Day 3; P>0.05]. These results show that high glucose levels can evoke the calcification of HASMCs by inducing osteoblastic trans-differentiation and intracellular calcium deposition via the BMP-2/Cbfα-1 pathway, which can be partially blocked by Noggin protein.

Key words: Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), Core binding factor alpha-1 (Cbfα-1), Vascular smooth muscle cell, Noggin protein

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