[Expression of BMP2/Smad1/Runx2 Signal Pathway in Renal Artery of Rat with Vascular Calcification].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the activation and its role of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2)/Smad1/Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) signal pathway in renal artery of rat models with vascular calcification.


METHODS
Twenty four male SD rats were randomly divided into control group and calcification group. Rat vascular calcification model was constructed by administration of vitamin D3 plus nicotine. Vascular calcification was confirmed by Von Kossa staining and calcium content was detected by calcium assay. Real time-PCR was applied to detect the expression of BMP2, Smad1, Runx2 mRNA, and immunohistochemistry was used to measure the protein levels of BMP2, Smad1, Runx2, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA).


RESULTS
Von Kossa staining showed a large number of black granules deposited in renal artery. Calcium content in calcification group was significantly higher than that in normal group. Compared with the control group, the expressions of BMP2, Smad1 and Runx2 mRNA in renal artery were increased in calcification group. The protein levels of BMP2, Smad1 and Runx2 were higher while the expression of α-SMA was lower in calcification group than those in control group. The correlation analysis was found a positivie correlation between the calcium content and BMP2 mRNA (r = 0.655, P < 0.05), Smad1 mRNA (r = 0.735, P < 0.05), Runx2 mRNA (r = 0.734, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of BMP2/Smad1/Runx2 signal pathway was strongly correlated with the severity of vascular calcification, which may be involved in the occurrence and development of vascular calcification.
Qin Chun-mei
Xiao
X
Wei
Cai-pan
CP
Gong
Wei-hua
WH
Wu
Jian
J
Liu
Jun-ming
JM
Fan
San-tao
ST
Ou
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051898:Smad1 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D000199:Actins; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D002118:Calcium; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051898:Smad1 Protein; C525720:Bmp2 protein, rat; C493717:Runx2 protein, rat; C497400:Smad1 protein, rat; C498862:Acta2 protein, rat