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

Figure 6

BMP-2 mediated TLR9-exacerbated vascular calcification in HASMCs. (a-b) HASMCs were transfected with scramble siRNA (C-siR) and BMP-2 siRNA (Si-BMP-2) for 2 days. (a) BMP-2 mRNA and (b) protein levels were measured. Data are relative to the β-actin level. GAPDH was a loading control. , vs. C-siR. (c-d) HASMCs were transfected with scramble siRNA (C-siR) and BMP-2 siRNA (Si-BMP-2) for 2 days, and then treated with Pi, with or without ssDNA for 7 days. (c) Calcium content was measured. , vs. C-siR + Pi, ^# vs. C-SiR + Pi + ssDNA. (d) Alizarin red staining was operated.

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