Ghrelin improves vascular autophagy in rats with vascular calcification.
Mingming Xu, Lin Liu, Chenfang Song, Wei Chen, Shuyan Gui
Author Information
Mingming Xu: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Affiliated Nanshan Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, China. Electronic address: dr_xumm@sina.com.
Lin Liu: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Affiliated Nanshan Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, China.
Chenfang Song: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Affiliated Nanshan Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, China.
Wei Chen: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Affiliated Nanshan Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, China.
Shuyan Gui: Department of Endocrine, Affiliated Nanshan Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, China.
BACKGROUNDS: This study aimed to investigate whether ghrelin ameliorated vascular calcification (VC) through improving autophagy. METHODS: VC model was induced by nicotine plus vitamin D in rats and β-glycerophosphate in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC). Calcium deposition was detected by von Kossa staining or alizarin red S staining. ALP activity was also detected. Western blot was used to assess the protein expression. RESULTS: Ghrelin treatment attenuated the elevation of calcium deposition and ALP activity in VC model both in vivo and in vitro. Interesting, the protein levels of autophagy markers, LC3 and beclin1 were significantly upregulated by ghrelin in VC model. An autophagy inhibitor, 3-methyladenine blocks the ameliorative effect of ghrelin on VC. Furthermore, protein expressions of phosphate-AMPK were increased by ghrelin treatment both in calcified aorta and VSMC. The effect of ghrelin on autophagy induction and VC attenuation was prevented by AMPK inhibitor, compound C. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that ghrelin improved autophagy through AMPK activation, which was resulted in VC amelioration. These data maybe throw light on prevention and therapy of VC.
