Fig. 5.

Reduced cell viability and number in calcifying VSMCs. (A) All cells showed an increase in number with increasing time in culture. Cell number was unchanged at day 4, 7 and 10 but was decreased 12% at day 14 in calcifying VSMCs compared to control VSMCs. (B) Increasing culture time was associated with a progressive reduction in calcifying VSMC cell viability; the percentage of dead cells was up to 7-fold higher in calcifying VSMCs compared to bone-forming osteoblasts and control VSMCs. (C) At day 7, the level of apoptosis was almost doubled in calcifying VSMCs compared to control cells. (D) Reduced viability in osteoblasts grown in medium associated with dystrophic mineral deposition. Values are mean ± SEM (n = 6 replicate wells), *** = p < 0.001, * = p < 0.05.