Figure 7. C/EBPβ regulates mineralization and phosphate uptake of VSMCs.

Levels of C/EBPβ (A) mRNA and (B) protein in VSMCs overexpressing C/EBPβ. VSMCs were infected with lentiviruses containing human C/EBPβ. A single colony was isolated by puromycin selection. (C) Mineralization of VSMCs. VSMCs were incubated with 2.0 mM phosphate for 7 days. (D) Inorganic phosphate (Pi) uptake in VSMCs overexpressing C/EBPβ. Pi uptake was analyzed with ³²P-KH₂PO₄. Levels of PiT1 and PiT2 (E) mRNA and (F) protein in VSMCs overexpressing C/EBPβ. Levels of C/EBPβ (G) mRNA and (H) protein in C/EBPβ knockdown VSMCs. The cells were infected with lentiviruses containing C/EBPβ shRNA. A single colony was isolated in the presence of puromycin. (I) Mineralization of VSMCs. VSMCs were incubated with 2.0 mM phosphate for 7 days. (J) Pi uptake in C/EBPβ knockdown VSMCs. Pi uptake was analyzed with ³²P-KH₂PO₄. Levels of PiT1 and PiT2 (K) mRNA and (L) protein in C/EBPβ knockdown VSMCs. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. Two-tailed unpaired Student’s t test was used for statistical analysis