Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 8, 2025

Isolation of Mouse Interstitial Valve Cells to Study the Calcification of the Aortic Valve In Vitro
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Isolation of Mouse Interstitial Valve Cells to Study the Calcification of the Aortic Valve In Vitro

Published on: May 10, 2021

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Emodin alleviates aortic valvular calcification by inhibiting the AKT/FOXO1 pathway

Man Luo1, Wei Sun1, Bin Zhou1

  • 1Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.

Annals of Anatomy = Anatomischer Anzeiger : Official Organ of the Anatomische Gesellschaft
|December 27, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Emodin effectively alleviates high-calcium-induced valvular calcification by suppressing AKT/FOXO1 signaling. This natural compound shows promise as a therapeutic strategy for treating valvular calcification in patients.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical research
  • Pharmacology
  • Cardiovascular disease

Background:

  • Valvular calcification is a growing health concern, particularly in the elderly.
  • Current treatments for valvular calcification are limited, highlighting the need for new therapeutic agents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the suppressive effects of emodin on high-calcium-induced valvular calcification.
  • To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of emodin's action.

Main Methods:

  • Valvular calcification was induced in mice using vitamin D.
  • Porcine aortic valve interstitial cells (PAVICs) were used to assess emodin's effects on cell viability, apoptosis, and osteogenic gene expression.
  • The role of AKT/FOXO1 signaling was examined using specific activators and inhibitors.

Main Results:

  • Emodin (5 μM) reduced calcium accumulation and osteogenic gene upregulation in PAVICs under high-calcium conditions.
  • In vivo, emodin treatment decreased calcium content in serum, valves, and arteries of mice with induced valvular calcification.
  • Emodin reversed the upregulation of p-AKT and p-FOXO1, key components of the AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway.

Conclusions:

  • Emodin demonstrates a significant therapeutic potential in alleviating valvular calcification.
  • The mechanism involves the suppression of the AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway.
  • These findings offer novel insights for developing emodin-based treatments for clinical valvular calcification.
Abstract

Keywords:
AKTEmodinFOXO1High-calciumValvular calcification

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