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Updated: Feb 11, 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

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Fibulin-3 Attenuates Phosphate-Induced Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Calcification by Inhibition of Oxidative Stress

Trang T D Luong1, Nadeshda Schelski1, Beate Boehme1

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry : International Journal of Experimental Cellular Physiology, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology
|April 25, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Fibulin-3 protein effectively reduces vascular calcification in human aortic cells by inhibiting oxidative stress. This finding suggests Fibulin-3 may help treat vascular calcification in conditions like chronic kidney disease.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Vascular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Oxidative stress is a key factor in vascular calcification, particularly in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with hyperphosphatemia.
  • Fibulin-3, an extracellular matrix glycoprotein, is known to inhibit oxidative stress and vascular remodeling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of Fibulin-3 on phosphate-induced vascular calcification in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HAoSMCs).

Main Methods:

  • Primary HAoSMCs were treated with phosphate-rich medium, with or without recombinant human Fibulin-3.
  • Oxidative stress markers and osteo-/chondrogenic differentiation markers were analyzed.
  • Hydrogen peroxide was used to mimic oxidative stress.

Main Results:

  • Fibulin-3 significantly reduced calcium deposition in HAoSMCs exposed to phosphate.
  • Fibulin-3 suppressed phosphate-induced alkaline phosphatase activity and the expression of osteogenic/chondrogenic markers.
  • Fibulin-3 inhibited oxidative stress markers (NOX4, CYBA) and downstream effectors (PAI-1, MMP2, MMP9), while increasing antioxidant capacity.

Conclusions:

  • Fibulin-3 attenuates phosphate-induced vascular calcification and osteo-/chondrogenic transdifferentiation by inhibiting oxidative stress.
  • Increasing Fibulin-3 levels or supplementation could be a therapeutic strategy against vascular calcification in hyperphosphatemic conditions like CKD.
Abstract

Keywords:
Fibulin-3Osteo-/chondrogenic signalingOxidative stressPhosphateVascular calcificationVascular smooth muscle cells

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