Ligustrazine activate the PPAR-γ pathway and play a protective role in vascular calcification

  • Vascular. 2021 Oct 20;17085381211051477. doi: 10.1177/17085381211051477.
Hui Li  1 ,  Min Yang  2
Affiliations
  • 1. Department of Cardiology, Shanxi Chinese Medical Hospital, Taiyuan, China.
  • 2. Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliate Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
PMID: 34670463 DOI: 10.1177/17085381211051477
Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the role of ligustrazine in vascular calcification.

Methods: After β-GP stimulation, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were detected by Alizarin Red Staing staining. Calcium content and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) activity were detected by intracellular calcium assay kit and ALP assay kit, respectively. The expression of peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor (PPAR-γ) pathway-related proteins was detected by Western blot. PPAR-γ, MSX2, Osteopontin (OPN), sclerostin, and BGP were detected by RT-PCR.

Results: β-GP induced the decreased activity and expression of PPAR-γ and ALP in VSMCs, while ligustrazine activated the expression of PPAR-γ. Through activation of PPAR-γ, ligustrazine decreased β-GP-induced VSMC calcification, decreased the expression of markers of osteogenesis and chondrogenic differentiation, and increased the expression of VSMC markers.

Conclusion: Ligustrazine activates the PPAR-γ pathway and plays a protective role in vascular calcification.

Keywords
Ligustrazine tetramethylpyrazine; PPAR-γ pathway; osteogenesis; vascular calcification.
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