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Updated: Apr 7, 2026

Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Imaging of Aortic Calcification and Inflammation
Published on: May 31, 2016
Magnesium prevents β-glycerophosphate-induced calcification in rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells
Yaling Bai1, Junxia Zhang1, Jinsheng Xu1
1Department of Nephrology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050011, P.R. China.
Abstract:
Vascular calcification (VC), in which high serum phosphate plays a critical role, is one major problem in patients with chronic kidney disease. Clinical studies report that magnesium has a protective effect on VC. However, the studies regarding the impact of high serum magnesium on VC at a cellular level are few and require further investigation. Therefore, the present study explored the effect of magnesium on calcification induced by β-glycerophosphate (BGP) in rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (RAVSMCs). In the present study, the addition of magnesium decreased calcium deposition, which was increased by BGP. Higher magnesium levels inhibited BGP-induced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and decreased the expression of core-binding factor α-1 (Cbfα1). In conclusion, higher magnesium levels prevented BGP-induced calcification in RAVSMCs and inhibited the expression of Cbfα1 and ALP. Thus, magnesium is influencing the expression of Cbfα1 and ALP associated with VC and may have the potential to serve as a role for VC in clinical situations.
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