Abstract:
【Abstract】 Objective To investigate the role of statins on high concentration phosphate-induced osteoblast transdifferentiation and calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells. Method Human aortic smooth cells (HASMC) were cultured in normal control medium, normal phosphate medium (1.5mmol/L phosphate) and high phosphate medium (2.5mmol/L phosphate), respectively. The expression of core binding factor-α1 (cbf-α1) and osteopontin (OPN) was measured by real-time quantitative PCR after culture in the medium for 72 hours, and calcium concentration in the medium was also measured after the culture for 14 days. HASMC were then cultured in high phosphate medium containing 0.1 umol/L atorvastatin for 14 days, and calcium content in HASMC was determined. Results Real-time quantitative PCR showed that the expression of cbf-α1 was significantly higher in high phosphate group than in control group (50.02±0.38 vs. 1.02±0.35, P＜0.001), but without difference between normal phosphate group and control group (1.07±0.15 vs. 1.02±0.35, P＞0.05). The expression of OPN was also remarkably higher in high phosphate group than in control group (14.62±0.35 vs. 1.05±0.16). The calcium content in HASMC was significantly higher in high phosphate group than in control group (115±2.43 vs. 4.08±0.32, P＜0.001), but was similar in normal phosphate group and control group (5.01±0.21 vs. 4.08±0.32，P＞0.05). Atorvastatin significantly decreased the phosphate-induced calcium deposit (115±2.43 vs. 58±2.65 ug/mg protein, P＜0.01). Conclusion High phosphate induced osteoblast transdifferentiation and calcification of HASMC. The high phosphate induced calcification of HASMC could be inhibited by atorvastatin.

Key words: Atorvastatin, Human aortic smooth muscle cells, Osteoblastic transdifferentiation, Calcification