Impact of copper on the calcification of human primary aortic vascular smooth muscle cells

Vascular calcification (VC) is defined as a deposition of calcium phosphate crystals (mainly hydroxyapatite) in vascular walls. Irrespective of its particular localisation, whether in tunica intima or tunica media, VC is a serious pathological condition aggravating cardiovascular diseases. The process was shown to be tightly regulated and is mainly controlled and mediated by vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). VSMCs are the major cellular component of the largest vascular wall layer, tunica media. At the same time copper is an essential microelement in humans involved in a wealth of vital processes. Despite demonstrated importance of copper for cardiovascular system little is known about copper significance for VC. Aim of this study was to evaluate effects of copper supplementation (10 uM) and its restriction (10 uM of copper chelator TTM) on the transcriptomes of human primary aortic VSMCs during their calcification. Calcification was induced by high calcium and phosphate in the cultivation medium (1% FBS DMEM, 2.2 mM Ca2+ and 2.2 mM Pi). mRNA was sequenced at two timepoints, 3 and 9 days after induction of calcification, which corresponded to the initial and developed stages of calcification.