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Updated: May 23, 2026

Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Imaging of Aortic Calcification and Inflammation
08:43

Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Imaging of Aortic Calcification and Inflammation

Published on: May 31, 2016

Ghrelin attenuates the osteoblastic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells through the ERK pathway

Qiu-Hua Liang1, Yi Jiang, Xiao Zhu

  • 1Institute of Metabolism and Endocrinology, the Second Xiang-Ya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China.

Plos One
|April 20, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Ghrelin, a bioactive peptide, inhibits vascular calcification by preventing smooth muscle cell differentiation. This occurs through the growth hormone secretagog receptor (GHSR) and extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) pathway.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Endocrinology
  • Cellular Biology

Background:

  • Vascular calcification, driven by smooth muscle cell osteoblastic differentiation, is a key cardiovascular risk factor.
  • Ghrelin, a peptide hormone, has known cardiovascular protective effects, but its role in vascular calcification is underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of ghrelin on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) osteoblastic differentiation.
  • To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of ghrelin's action in vascular calcification.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized calcifying vascular smooth muscle cells (CVSMCs) and beta-glycerophosphate (beta-GP)-induced VSMCs.
  • Assessed alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, Runx2 and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) expression, and calcium content.
  • Investigated the involvement of the extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) pathway and the growth hormone secretagog receptor (GHSR) using siRNA.

Main Results:

  • Ghrelin significantly inhibited VSMC osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization.
  • Observed decreased ALP activity, Runx2, BMP-2 expression, and calcium content in response to ghrelin.
  • Demonstrated that ghrelin's suppressive effect is mediated through the GHSR/ERK pathway in a time- and dose-dependent manner.

Conclusions:

  • Ghrelin effectively inhibits osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization of VSMCs.
  • The GHSR/ERK signaling pathway is crucial for ghrelin's inhibitory effects on vascular calcification.

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