Icariin attenuates the calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells through ERα - p38MAPK pathway.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between icariin and the osteoblastic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and the signal pathway involved.

Methods: We applied a universally accepted calcification model of VSMCs induced by β glycerophosphate. Then the VSMCs calcification was observed by treatment with icariin and/or inhibitors of estrogen receptors (ERs) and p38-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling.

Results: Icariin inhibited osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization of VSMCs due to decreased ALP activity and Runx2 expression. Further study demonstrated that icariin exerted this suppression effect through activating p38-MAPK but not extracellular-regulated kinase, JNK or Akt. An inhibitor of p38-MAPK partially reversed the inhibitory effects of icariin on osteoblastic differentiation. Interestingly, treatment of VSMCs with an ER antagonist ICI182780 and a selective ERα receptor antagonist PPT attenuated icariin-mediated inhibition effect of VSMCs calcification, associated with suppression of p38-MAPK phosphorylation.

Conclusions: Icariin inhibited the osteoblastic differentiation of VSMCs, and that the inhibitory effects were mediated by p38-MAPK pathways through ERα.