title: Natural antioxidants and vascular calcification: a possible benefit.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies have demonstrated the impact of vascular calcification on morbidity and mortality both in the general and chronic kidney disease populations. The process of vascular calcification involves complex mechanisms including the overexpression of genes and proteins associated with mineralization and increments of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Taking into account previous findings, we decided to analyze in vitro the likely inhibitory effect of natural antioxidants in the process of vascular calcification.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were cultured with either normal medium or normal medium supplemented with calcium and phosphorus (P + Ca) in combination with several antioxidants. Mineralization, intracellular reactive oxygen species levels and the protein expression of Cbfa1/RUNX2 and Mn-superoxide dismutase-2 (SOD-2) were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Curcumin and silybin were the more effective, inhibiting both ROS increase and VSMC mineralization. Curcumin was able to prevent the increase in Cbfa1/RUNX2 expression, but did not modify SOD-2 expression in the VSMCs cultured with the P + Ca medium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings support the importance of performing further studies in this field, as some antioxidants might have potential benefits in the management of vascular calcification.
authors.affiliation: Asturias Central University Hospital, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roman-Garcia
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barrio-Vazquez
authors.forename: Jose Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Martin
authors.forename: Maria Piedad
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Torres
authors.forename: Jorge B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Cannata-Andia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077385:Silybin; D012838:Silymarin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099156:Superoxide Dismutase 2
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002118:Calcium; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D003474:Curcumin; D010758:Phosphorus; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D000077385:Silybin; D012838:Silymarin; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000099156:Superoxide Dismutase 2