Sinomenine attenuates uremia vascular calcification by miR-143-5p

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Biology
• Pharmacology
• Molecular Medicine

Background:

• Vascular calcification poses a significant threat to cardiovascular health, driven by inflammation and immune responses.
• Currently, no approved therapies exist for preventing vascular calcification.
• Sinomenine demonstrates known anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of sinomenine in mitigating vascular calcification.
• To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms, particularly focusing on microRNA regulation.

Main Methods:

• Adenine-induced uremic rat model and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) cultures were utilized.
• Vascular calcification was assessed using histological staining (Alizarin Red, von Kossa), quantification, and micro-CT.
• miRNA sequencing, bioinformatic analysis, and qRT-PCR were employed to identify and validate key microRNAs.

Main Results:

• Sinomenine administration (40 mg/kg/d) significantly reduced aortic calcification in uremic rats.
• Sinomenine upregulated rno-miR-143-5p expression in aortas and VSMCs, inhibiting VSMC calcification.
• Lower circulating miR-143-5p levels were observed in chronic kidney disease patients with vascular calcification.

Conclusions:

• Sinomenine effectively alleviates vascular calcification through partial regulation of miR-143-5p.
• miR-143-5p plays a protective role against VSMC calcification and is a potential biomarker for vascular calcification in CKD.
• Sinomenine represents a promising therapeutic agent for vascular calcification, warranting further investigation.