Role And Mechanism Of α-klotho In Calcification Of Rat Aortic Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Objective:To investigate the role and possible mechanism of α-Klotho in calcification and osteogenic transition of cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs).Methods:VSMCs were cultured in vitro with 10 mmol/L β-glycerophosphate, adding different concentrations of rm Klotho and treated with Wnt/β-catenin agonist Li Cl or not. Calcium deposits were checked by Alizarin red S staining. Calcium concentrations in cells layer were determined by arsenazo-III method. Bone morphogenetic protein-2(BMP2), runt-related transcription factor 2(Runx2) and β-catenin were estimated by Western blotting at day 12. Αlpha-smooth muscle actin(a-SMA) was checked by fluorometry method.Results: β-glycerophosphate induced a dose-dependent increasing of BMP2, Runx2, β-catenin and calcium concentration. Alizarin red S staining was postive under the condition of high phosphorus. The expressions of BMP2, Runx2, β-catenin and calcium concentration were decreased after treating with rm Klotho. However, the expression of BMP2, Runx2 and β-catenin were upregulated when treated with Li Cl.Conclusions:Klotho can ameliorate the calcification and osteogenic transition of VSMCs induced by β-glycerophosphate. The mechanism of Klotho in preventing VSMCs from calcification may be partially through the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin cell signal transduction way.AIM: To evaluate the role of fluid overload(FO) level in the prognosis assessment of critically ill patients.METHODS: One hundred critically ill patients in ICU of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were enrolled from March 2013 to October 2013. The FO level was measured in the hospitalization duration. The correlations between FO and acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ(APACHEⅡ)score, length of ICU stay, duration of ventilation and mortality were analyzed.RESULTS: There were 80 survivals and 20 deaths in 100 admissions. The average APACHEⅡscore and FO level in the survival group were lower than those in the death group(P<0.01). One hundred patients were divided into 3 groups according to their FO levels. With the increase of FO level, APACHEⅡ score, length of ICU stay and mortality all increased.CONCLUSION: The increasing level of FO and APACHE Ⅱ score have significant implications in prognosis assessment of survival rate, duration of ventilation and length of ICU stay in critically ill patients.