kalkitoxin and Vascular-Calcification

Kalkitoxin (KT) is an active lipopeptide isolated from the cyanobacterium. Using diverse calcification media, we studied the effect of KT on VSMC calcification and the underlying mechanism of this effect.. VSMC was isolated from the 6 weeks ICR mice. Then VSMCs were treated with different concentrations of KT to check the cell viability. Alizarin red and von Kossa staining were carried out to examine the calcium deposition on VSMC. Thoracic aorta of 6 weeks mice were taken and treated with different concentrations of KT, and H and E staining was performed. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot were performed to examine KT's effect on VSMC mineralization. Calcium deposition on VSMC was examined with a calcium deposition quantification kit.. Calcium deposition, Alizarin red, and von Kossa staining revealed that KT reduced inorganic phosphate-induced calcification phenotypes. KT also reduced Ca. This experiment demonstrated that KT decreases vascular calcification and may be developed as a new therapeutic treatment for vascular calcification and arteriosclerosis.

Topics: Animals; Calcium; Cells, Cultured; Collagen; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Rodent Diseases; Signal Transduction; Vascular Calcification