Suppression of Gut Bacterial Translocation Ameliorates Vascular Calcification through Inhibiting Toll-Like Receptor 9-Mediated BMP-2 Expression

Figure 2

Antibiotics reduce vascular calcification and inflammation in adenine-induced CRF rats. (a) von Kossa staining of the rat abdominal aorta of Ctrl, CRF, and CRF + Anti rats. (b) Calcium content of abdominal aorta was measured and normalized by dried tissue weight. (c) Real-time PCR analyzed the mRNA levels of osteogenic gene score-binding factor α-1 (Cbfα1), msh homeobox 2 (Msx2); VSMC lineage markers SM22α and α-actin in the rat aorta from Ctrl, CRF, and CRF + Anti groups. Data are relative to the β-actin level. (d) Western blot analyses of Cbfα1 and SM22α protein levels in the rat aorta from Ctrl, CRF, and CRF + Anti groups. GAPDH was a loading control.~12, vs. Ctrl, ^# vs. CRF.

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