Efficacy and mechanism of Shenqi Compound in Inhibiting Diabetic Vascular Calcification

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Shenqi Compound (SQC) in managing diabetic vascular calcification and to explore the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Diabetic vascular calcification was induced in Goto Kakizaki (GK) rats using vitamin D3 and nicotine. The effects of SQC were assessed in experimental groups: control, model, low/medium/high-dose SQC treatment, and metformin control. Pathological staining, transcriptome sequencing, Western blot, and qRT-PCR analyses were employed to investigate calcium deposition, osteogenic differentiation, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, apoptosis, and potential mechanisms of SQC. Results: SQC treatment significantly reduced diabetic aortic calcification, as evidenced by decreased calcium deposition and inhibited osteogenic differentiation. Enhanced matrix remodeling and suppressed aortic apoptosis were observed. Transcriptome sequencing indicated differential expression of genes related to inflammation and lipid metabolism. Notably, the Hippo-YAP pathway emerged as a mediator of SQC's protective effects. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that SQC effectively inhibits diabetic aortic calcification. The observed effects are attributed to apoptosis inhibition, ECM remodeling, inflammation modulation, lipid metabolism regulation, and involvement of the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway. These findings underscore SQC's potential as a therapeutic agent for diabetic cardiovascular complications, suggesting promising directions for further research and clinical application.