Zinc Restored the Decreased Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Viability under Atherosclerotic Calcification Conditions

Zinc is considered to be involved in maintaining healthy vascular condition. Atherosclerotic calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) occurs via the mechanism of cell death; therefore, cell viability is a critical factor for preventing VSMC calcification. In this study, we tested whether zinc affected VSMC viability under both normal physiological non-calcifying (0 mM P) and atherosclerotic calcifying conditions (3 and 5 mM P), since VSMC physiological characters change during the VSMC calcification process. The study results showed that an optimal zinc level (15 μM) restored the decreased VSMC viability which was induced under low zinc levels (0 and 1 μM) and calcifying conditions (3 and 5 mM P) at 9 and 15 days culture. This zinc-protecting effect for VSMC viability is more prominent under atherosclerotic calcifying condition (3 and 5 mM P) than normal condition (0 mM P). Also, the increased VSMC viability was consistent with the decreased Ca and P accumulation in VSMC cell layers. The results suggested that zinc could be an effective biomineral for preventing VSMC calcification under atherosclerotic calcifying conditions.

[1]  Masaya Kanayama,et al.  The Combined Effect of Caffeine and Ornithine on the Mood of Healthy Office Workers , 2014, Preventive nutrition and food science.

[2]  C. Mayer,et al.  Plasma zinc's alter ego is a low‐molecular‐weight humoral factor , 2013, FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.

[3]  J. Feldmann,et al.  Marginal dietary zinc deficiency in vivo induces vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis in large arteries. , 2013, Cardiovascular research.

[4]  C. Giachelli,et al.  Vascular Calcification: An Update on Mechanisms and Challenges in Treatment , 2013, Calcified Tissue International.

[5]  Xianwu Li,et al.  Regulation of Vascular Calcification Roles of Phosphate and Osteopontin , 2005 .

[6]  J. Beattie,et al.  Is zinc deficiency a risk factor for atherosclerosis? , 2004, The British journal of nutrition.

[7]  J. Skepper,et al.  Apoptosis Regulates Human Vascular Calcification In Vitro: Evidence for Initiation of Vascular Calcification by Apoptotic Bodies , 2000, Circulation research.

[8]  M. Bennett,et al.  An Introduction to Vascular Biology: The regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis , 2002 .

[9]  M. Bennett.  Apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells in vascular remodelling and atherosclerotic plaque rupture. , 1999, Cardiovascular research.

[10]  R. Terkeltaub,et al.  Chondrocyte-derived apoptotic bodies and calcification of articular cartilage. , 1998, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[11]  A. Jacquemart.  Biological Flora of the British Isles : Vaccinium uliginosum L. , 1996 .

[12]  Kim Km.  Apoptosis and calcification. , 1995 .

[13]  J. Beattie,et al.  Copper and zinc metabolism in health and disease: speciation and interactions , 1995, Proceedings of the Nutrition Society.

[14]  K. M. Kim.  Apoptosis and calcification. , 1995, Scanning microscopy.