Introduction:

Oxidative stress has been implicated in the development and progression of vascular calcification (VC). However, this causal association remains a matter of controversy.

Objective: To analyze in an experimental model of chronic renal failure (CRF), the effect of oxidative stress on the development and progression of the VC, assessing the implication of microRNA-377 (miR-377).

Material and methods:

Two groups of Wistar rats with CRF were studied. Group 1 received normal diet in phosphorus (CRF+NP). Group 2 received a high phosphorus (CRF+HP) diet. A group of Sham rats was included. After 20 weeks, the rats were sacrificed.

Results:

Serum phosphorus and parathormone did not increase in the CRF+HP group compared to CRF+NP, but fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) levels significantly increased. In the CRF+NP group, aortic calcium content increased three-fold over the Sham group, a 17-fold increase in the CRF+HP group, where the bone mineral density in the proximal tibia decreased significantly. In the CRF+NP group, the expression of miR-377 decreased by 65%, with no additional effect detected of the diet with high phosphorus content. In the CRF+NP group, the protein expression of mitochondrial superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD-2) increased 3-fold, and in the CRF+HP group it increased up to 6-fold.

Conclusions:

CRF, with or without high phosphorus dietary content, triggered the descent of miR-377. Excess phosphorus increased SOD-2 as a compensatory mechanism to curb oxidative stress and vascular damage. Controlling phosphorus content in the diet when the renal impairment function is compromised will reduce the vascular damage produced due oxidative stress, among other factors.

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