FIGURE 14.

EV-LPS increase osteogenic marker gene expression and decrease contractile marker gene expression in smooth muscle cells. MOVAS-1 cells were incubated with 4 mM Pi, with or without RAW cell-derived EVs, for 7 days. Gene expression of (A) osterix, (B) osteocalcin, and (C) α-SMA was then quantified by quantitative real-time PCR and normalized to that of the housekeeping gene ß-actin. Data are expressed as the mean ± SEM of at least four independent experiments performed in triplicate (n = 4). *p < 0.05 vs. 4 mM Pi, **p < 0.01 vs. 4 mM Pi, Mann Whitney test. EV-CT: EVs derived from untreated macrophages, EV-LPS: EVs derived from LPS-EK-treated macrophages.