Vascular calcification (VC) is the pathological deposition of
calcium and
phosphate minerals in blood vessels, which is a common complication of
atherosclerosis.
Polypeptide N-
acetylgalactosamine transferase 3 (GALNT3) initiates O-glycosylation of
proteins through addition of GalNAc to specific
serine or
threonine residues. Our previous studies revealed the potent role of GALNT3 in
atherosclerosis, whereas the precise mechanisms remain obscure. This study investigated the regulatory effect and mechanism of GALNT3 on VC. Firstly, GALNT3 was overexpressed and knocked down by adenovirus in high-
phosphate induced calcified HASMCs and overexpressed by adeno-associated virus in
vitamin D3-induced arterial calcification mice. We showed that the
calcium deposition and
mRNA expression of osteogenic markers MSX2, ALPL, and Runx2 were all significantly reduced with GALNT3 overexpression. Moreover, overexpression of GALNT3 significantly down-regulated the expression of the oxidative stress markers Nox2 and Nox4, up-regulated total
antioxidant capacity, decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory factors IL-1β, TNF-α and
IL-8,
matrix metalloproteinases MMP2 and MMP9, as well as reduced the apoptosis of cells in
phosphate induced HASMCs. Furthermore,
Vicia Villosa Lectin (VVL) pull down and
TNFR1 immunoprecipitation assays showed that GALNT3 overexpression increased O-GalNAcylation of
TNFR1 and blocked the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway. In addition, GALNT3 attenuates
vitamin D3-induced aortic calcification in mice by alleviating oxidative stress and apoptosis of smooth muscle cells. In conclusion, this study indicates that GALNT3 protects against VC by reducing oxidative stress, vascular
inflammation, and apoptosis of smooth muscle cells through the
TNFR1/NF-κB signaling pathway. Thus, GALNT3 may be a potential therapeutic target for VC.