Abstract:Objective To explore the effect and possible mechanisms of acidification on high phosphorusinduced vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) calcification in rats. Methods VSMCs were isolated from rat aorta, and randomly divided into control group and high phosphorus group. The high phosphorus group was further settled into two subgroups, i.e. high phosphorus+pH 7.1 group and high phosphorus+pH 7.4 group, which were treated with β-glycerophosphate, and acidified by HCl to adjust the pH. The mRNA expressions of nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1 ) and Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2 ) in VSMCs were detected by RT-PCR after stimulation for 4 days. The activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and calcium deposition were tested after culture for 14 days. Results Compared to the control group, calcium depositon and ALP activity were significantly increased in the high phosphorus+pH 7.4 group (P < 0.05), and the expressions of NFATc1 and RUNX2 were upregulated as well (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the calcification level and the expressions of RUNX2 and NFATc1 in the high phosphorus+pH 7.1 group were lower than those in the high phosphorus+pH 7.4 group (P < 0.05). NFATc1 expression level was positively correlated with ALP activity and RUNX2 expression level (P < 0.05). Conclusions Acidic environment can inhibit VSMC calcification induced by high phosphorus in rats, its mechanism is possibly by downregulation of NFATc1 expression and prevention of VSMC phenotypic transformation.