Capsaicin inhibits aortic valvular interstitial cell calcification via the redox-sensitive NFκB/AKT/ERK1/2 pathway

Calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS), the third most prevalent cardiovascular disorder is known to impose a huge social and economic burden on patients. However, no pharmacotherapy has yet been established. Aortic valve replacement is the only treatment option, although its lifelong efficacy is not guaranteed and involves inevitable complications. So, there is a crucial need to find novel pharmacological targets to delay or prevent CAVS progression. Capsaicin is well known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and has recently been revealed to inhibit arterial calcification. We thus investigated the effect of capsaicin in attenuating aortic valve interstitial cells (VICs) calcification induced by pro-calcifying medium (PCM). Capsaicin reduced the level of calcium deposition in calcified VICs, along with reductions in gene and protein expression of the calcification markers Runx2, osteopontin, and BMP2. Based on Gene Ontology biological process and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis oxidative stress, AKT and AGE-RAGE signaling pathways were selected. The AGE-RAGE signaling pathway activates oxidative stress and inflammation-mediated pathways including ERK and NF kappa B signaling pathways. Capsaicin successfully inhibited oxidative stress- and reactive oxygen speciesrelated markers NOX2 and p22phox. The markers of the AKT, ERK1/2, and NF kappa B signaling pathways, namely, phosphorylated AKT, ERK1/2, NF kappa B, and I kappa B alpha were upregulated in calcified cells, while being significantly downregulated upon capsaicin treatment. Capsaicin attenuates VICs calcification in vitro by inhibition of redoxsensitive NF kappa B/AKT/ERK1/2 signaling pathway, indicating its potential as a candidate to alleviate CAVS.