Vascular Calcification in Chronic Kidney Disease is Induced by Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 via a Mechanism Involving the Wnt/�-Catenin Pathway

Background/Aims: Wnt5a is overexpressed in psoriasis lesions, however the mechanism by which Wnt5a is involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis is not clear. To address this, the expression of Wnt5a in psoriatic lesions and its effect on keratinocyte cell proliferation and apoptosis was examined in vitro. Methods: The expression levels of WNT5A, and genes encoding its receptors frizzled2 (FZD2) and frizzled5 (FZD5) were examined in samples obtained from individuals with psoriasis and healthy controls. Knockdown of Wnt5a with short interfering (si)RNAs was performed in cultured HaCaT keratinocytes and normal human keratinocytes (NHK), and the expression of Wnt5a, protein kinase C (PKC), and β-catenin were determined, and cell cycle activity, proliferation and apoptosis were assessed. Results: The expression of WNT5A, FZD2 and FZD5 mRNA and protein were increased in psoriatic lesions. Wnt5a knockdown suppressed proliferation and induced apoptosis in HaCaT and NHK cells. Additionally, expression of PCNA, MKI67, CCND1, BCL2, CTNNB1, and genes encoding PKC and survivin were downregulated, whereas CASP3 was upregulated. The mRNA levels of the Wnt pathway inhibitors DKK1 and SFRP1 were upregulated, Western blotting analyses demonstrated reduction in β-catenin and PKC protein levels. Conclusion: Knockdown of Wnt5a suppresses the proliferation of keratinocytes and induces apoptosis by inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin or Wnt5a/Ca²⁺ pathways.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wnt/β-Catenin and Wnt5a/Ca2+ Pathways Regulate Proliferation and Apoptosis of Keratinocytes in Psoriasis Lesions

Zhang

et al. 2015

“…BMP-2 is an osteogenic factor, which synergizes with β-catenin to direct osteogenic lineage allocation and contribute to new bone formation [55]. BMP-2 was previously reported to play an important role in osteogenic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, suggesting an underlying mechanism linking function of naringin with BMP-2 and Wnt/β-catenin in osteogenesis [56]. Additionally, the AMPK inhibitor dorsomorphin in this study exhibited a negative impact on naringin function, suggesting naringin may promote AMPK to stabilize β-catenin and in turn activate BMP signaling.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stimulation of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling to Improve Bone Development by Naringin via Interacting with AMPK and Akt

Wang

et al. 2015

Background/Aims: Naringin is a naturally existing compound in citrus fruits and has been elucidated to promote bone development and maintenance. Methods: The biological roles of naringin were investigated in vitro using osteoblast-like UMR-106 cells, and in vivo through performing ovariectomy to mimic osteoporosis in female mice. Since Wnt/β-catenin signaling is involved in osteoblastogenesis, the effect of naringin on Wnt/β-catenin signaling was studied. Results: Naringin promoted the mRNA and protein expressions of β-catenin, and improved Ser552 phosphorylation on β-catenin in UMR-106 cells, which leads to the activation of lymphoid enhancer factor (LEF)/ T-cell factor (TCF) transcription factors. The recruitments of protein kinase B (Akt) inhibitor (Akti-1/2) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor (Dorsomorphin) reduced the influence of naringin on β-catenin phosphorylation, suggesting naringin activates β-catenin via regulating Akt and AMPK. In ovariectomized (OVX) mice naringin treatment improved the bone strength while AMPK and Akt inhibitors partly reversed the effect, which further proved the involvements of Akt and AMPK in the action of naringin in vivo. Conclusion: Our study points to a novel finding on the mechanism of naringin in facilitating bone formation via Akt and AMPK signaling.

“…BMP2, a crucial promoter of vascular calcification, is a member of transforming growth factor-β superfamily. Its downstream effects are accomplished by the upregulation of key osteogenic transcription factors, including Runx2 and Msx2 which are mediators of vascular calcification [15,35]. The expression of Runx2 in SMCs serves as an early, definitive marker of osteoblastic differentiation, the initial step in vascular calcification [9].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endothelial Cells Promote Calcification in Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells from Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Meng

Zhao

Wang

et al. 2018

Background/Aims: Vascular calcification and hypertension are intimately linked, and the progression of hypertension is closely correlated with endothelial dysfunction. However, the role of endothelial cells (ECs) in vascular calcification of hypertension remains unclear. Therefore, the present study explored the effects of ECs on calcification of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) from aortas of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Methods: Aortic ECs and SMCs were isolated from SHR and Wistar rats, respectively. The roles of ECs in the regulation of SMCs calcification were investigated by co-culture and conditioned culture model. Calcium deposition of SMCs was detected by von Kossa staining. Quantization of calcium content in SMCs was determined colorimetrically by the o-cresolphthalein complexone method. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was measured colorimetrically by p-nitrophenol. The expression levels of MMP-2, MMP-9 and the calcification-promoting proteins were analyzed by Western blot. Results: Calcium deposition, ALP activity and the expression levels of calcification-promoting proteins in SMCs of SHR were significantly higher than that cultured without ECs after 6 days of co-culture with ECs or conditioned culture with the medium of ECs, however, there were no statistical differences between SMCs of Wistar rats. MMP-2 and MMP-9 in co-cultured ECs from SHR were dramatically higher than that cultured without SMCs, nevertheless, there were no statistical differences between ECs from Wistar rats and between SMCs from SHR or Wistar rats. Moreover, SB-3CT, a specific inhibitor of gelatinases, decreased calcium content and the expression levels of calcification-promoting proteins in both co-cultured and conditionally cultured SMCs from SHR. Conclusion: ECs have the ability to promote calcification of aortic SMCs of SHR, and elevated expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in ECs of SHR might facilitate the calcification of SMCs.