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. 2019 Jul 11;4(13):e126467. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.126467

Figure 6. Sclerostin inhibits BMP2-induced transdifferentiation and calcification in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Figure 6

Representative images of A7r5 vascular smooth muscle cells from 3 independent experiments. A7r5 cells were treated with BMP2 (150 ng/mL) in the presence and absence of sclerostin (100 ng/mL), and subjected to ALP (alkaline phosphatase) staining (A) and alizarin red staining (B). Red color denotes positive staining. Osteoblast transdifferentiation was quantified as ALP activity (C). Results are the mean ± SEM of at least 3 independent experiments, ****P < 0.0001, ***P < 0.0005 compared with vehicle-treated cells, ◊◊◊P < 0.0005 compared to treatment of BMP2 alone, determined by ANOVA followed by Bonferroni adjustment. Osteoblast mineralization was quantified as calcium content normalized to the protein content, respectively. (D) Results are the mean ± SEM of at least 3 independent experiments, ****P < 0.0001, **P < 0.01 compared with vehicle-treated cells, ◊P ≤ 0.05 compared with treatment of BMP2 alone, determined by ANOVA followed by Bonferroni adjustment.