Klotho Ameliorates Vascular Calcification via Promoting Autophagy

Figure 6

Klotho ameliorates aortic VC by promoting autophagy in Klotho-deficient mice. (a) The use of KL significantly promotes the LC3B-II/I ratio but decreases P62 protein expression in the group compared with those in the KO group (). Moreover, the employment of further promotes the LC3B-II/I ratio but restores P62 protein expression compared with those due to treatment with KL alone (). (b, c) The use of KL significantly promotes LC3B puncta/cell but decreases P62 fluorescence intensity in the group compared with those in the KO group (). The employment of further promotes LC3B puncta/cell and restores P62 fluorescence intensity compared with those due to treatment with KL alone (). (d) The Ca content significantly decreases in the stimulation of KL compared with that in the KO group () and partially increases in the stimulation of compared with that due to treatment with KL alone (). (e) In IHC experiments, the Runx2 expression significantly decreases in the stimulation of KL compared with that in the KO group () and partially recovered in the stimulation of compared with that due to treatment with KL alone (). (f) The use of KL greatly inhibits Runx2 protein expression and promotes α-SMA protein expression in the group compared with those in the KO group (), and the employment of markedly increases Runx2 protein expression and inhibits α-SMA protein expression compared with those due to treatment with KL alone (). .

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