Role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the mechanism of calcification of aortic valve.
Aortic valve calcification is a common disease in the elderly, but its cellular and molecular mechanisms are not clear. In order to verify the hypothesis that Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is involved in the process of calcification of aortic valve, porcine aortic valve interstitial cells (VICs) were isolated, cultured and stimulated with oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) for 48 h to induce the differentiation of VICs into osteoblast-like cells. The key proteins and genes of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, such as glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) and β-catenin, were detected by using Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results showed that the VICs managed to differentiate into osteoblast-like cells after the stimulation with ox-LDL and the levels of proteins and genes of GSK-3β and β-catenin were increased significantly in VICs after stimulation for 48 h (P<0.05). It is suggested that Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway may play a key role in the differentiation of VICs into osteoblast-like cells and make great contribution to aortic valve calcification.
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
Gang-Jian
GJ
Gu
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
Tao
T
Chen
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
Hong-Min
HM
Zhou
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
Ke-Xiong
KX
Sun
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China. junliulmde@yahoo.com.cn.
Jun
J
Li
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002114:Calcinosis; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000494:pharmacology; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013552:Swine; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D051176:beta Catenin; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase