microRNA expression profile in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) after inducing calcification

Vascular calcification, the ectopic deposition of calcium in blood vessels, develops in association with various metabolic diseases and atherosclerosis. Because it often causes stiffness and remodeling of the blood vessels, vascular calcification increases morbidity and mortality. Both miRNA and mRNA microarrays (Series GSE74755) were performed with rat VSMCs and reciprocally regulated pairs of miRNA and mRNA were selected after bioinformatic analysis. Calcification was induced in rat aorta vascular smooth muscle cells with inorganic phosphate (Pi). Total RNA were extracted from the cells 3 and 6 days later. mRNA profile of the sample was compared with normal control.