Regulation of angiogenesis and vascular calcification by progesterone (Pg) and acetate of medroxyprogesterone (MPA)

CUTINI P.; CAMPELO A.; MASSHEIMER V.

Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires

Congreso; Reunión Conjunta de Sociedades de Biociencias; 2017

Hormone replacement therapy including natural or synthetic progestins is a therapeutic alternative to prevent cardiovascular disease, although the risk/benefit of its use is controversial. The cellular/molecular mechanisms of Pg and MPA displayed at vascular level are not fully understood. Vascular calcification (VCa) within atherosclerotic plaque involves vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) transdifferentiation to osteogenic lineage. Furthermore, angiogenesis represents a survival option for damaged tissue. The aim of this work was to investigate the role of Pg and MPA on: a) metabolic/phenotypic changes of VSMC in a pro-calcifying environment, and b) angiogenesis (capillary tube formation and VEGF synthesis). VSMC were cultured in DMEM for 21 days with 4 mM CaCl2 and 10 mM β-glycerolphosphate to induce VCa. Calcium content in the extracellular matrix and alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) were selected as markers of osteoblastic transdifferentiation. Long treatment with 10 nM Pg showed a significant decrease in ALP activity (239.9±21; 203.6±2.9 x103 IU, control; Pg, p