Vitamin D receptor activators induce an anticalcific paracrine program in macrophages: requirement of osteopontin.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Vascular calcification is highly correlated with morbidity and mortality, and it is often associated with inflammation. Vitamin D may regulate vascular calcification and has been associated with cardiovascular survival benefits.

Methods and results

We developed a macrophage/smooth muscle cell (SMC) coculture system and examined the effects of vitamin D receptor activators (VDRA), calcitriol and paricalcitol, on SMC matrix calcification. We found that treatment of SMC alone with VDRA had little effect on phosphate-induced SMC calcification in vitro. However, coculture with macrophages promoted SMC calcification, and this was strikingly inhibited by VDRA treatment. Several VDRA-induced genes, including bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2), tumor necrosis factor-alpha,

SUBMITTER: Li X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2809826 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature