Melatonin Attenuates β-Glycerophosphate-Induced Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells via a Wnt1/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

Figure 1

Melatonin reduced β-glycerophosphate-induced calcium deposition in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) (n = 3). VSMCs were cultured with Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum and 10 mM β-glycerophosphate (β-GP) for 14 days. (a) Result of different concentrations of melatonin on calcium content. (b) Result of melatonin (5 μM) on Alizarin Red Staining. (c) Result of calcium concentration. (d) Result of Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level. (e–g) Results of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) mRNA expression, runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) mRNA expression, and caspase-3 activity. (h–j) Results of α-SMA, Runx2, and cleaved caspase-3 protein expression. versus Con, versus β-GP, and versus β-GP + Mel.

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