Hydrogen sulfide attenuates calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells via KEAP1/NRF2/NQO1 activation

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Vascular calcification is a common health problem related to oxidative stress, inflammation, and circulating calciprotein particles (CPP). Hydrogen sulfide is an endogenous signaling molecule with antioxidant properties and potential for drug development targeting redox signaling. Yet, its molecular mechanisms of action in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) calcification have not been delineated. We therefore sought to identify key pathways involved in the calcification-inhibitory properties of sulfide employing our recently developed CPP-induced VSMC calcification model. METHODS: Using next-generation sequencing, we investigated the transcriptomic changes of sodium hydr..