Role of Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway in the Mechanism of Calcification of Aortic Valve

Aortic valve calcification is a common disease in the elderly,but its cellular and molecular mechanisms are not clear.In order to verify the hypothesis that Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is involved in the process of calcification of aortic valve,porcine aortic valve interstitial cells(VICs)were isolated,cultured and stimulated with oxidized low density lipoprotein(ox-LDL)for 48 h to induce the differentiation of VICs into osteoblast-like cells.The key proteins and genes of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway,such as glycogen synthase kinase 3β(GSK-3β)andβ-catenin,were detected by using Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR).The results showed that the VICs managed to differentiate into osteoblast-like cells after the stimulation with ox-LDL and the levels of proteins and genes of GSK-3βandβ-catenin were increased significantly in VICs after stimulation for 48 h(P<0.05).It is suggested that Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway may play a key role in the differentiation of VICs into osteoblast-like cells and make great contribution to aortic valve calcification.