title: [High glucose promotes vascular smooth muscle cell calcification by activating WNT signaling pathway].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether high glucose-induced vascular calcification is associated with WNT signaling pathway.
  
  
  METHODS
  An in vitro model of human vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) calcification was induced by exposure of the cells to high glucose. The expressions of WNT signal molecules and bone-related proteins including Cbfa1, Osx, OCN and BMP2 were analyzed with qRT-PCR, and the cell calcification was assessed by alizarin red staining. The effect of Dkk1, a WNT signaling inhibitor, on high glucose-induced cell calcification was tested with alizarin red staining and calcium content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High glucose activated WNT signaling pathway in human VSMCs by up-regulating the expressions of WNT signal molecules including Wnt3a, Wnt7a, Fzd4 and Wisp1 mRNA by 1.86, 1.68, 2.1, and 2.3 folds, respectively, and by promoting the phosphorylation of β-catenin (2.70∓0.22, P<0.05), a key mediator of WNT signaling pathway. Inhibition of WNT signaling pathway by Dkk1 attenuated high glucose-induced VSMC calcification and down-regulated the expression of bone-related proteins Cbfa1, Osx, OCN, and BMP2 by (51∓9)%, (58∓11)%, (56∓10)%, and (62∓10)% (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  WNT signaling pathway is involved in high glucose-induced VSMC calcification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.E-mail: yanjy790@163.com.
authors.forename: Jian-Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Hui-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Meng-Lin
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Li-He
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005947:Glucose / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D015854:Up-Regulation; D061205:Vascular Calcification; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway
chemical_list: D005947:Glucose