Calcium sensing receptor mediated signaling in human vascular smooth muscle cells

Vascular smooth muscle cells play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of medial calcification. We have recently demonstrated expression of the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HAoSMC) and human arteries and demonstrated a correlation between CaSR expression and medial calcification. Here we have examined downstream CaSR-mediated signaling pathways in HAoSMC and investigated the role of the CaSR in regulating HAoSMC proliferation and apoptosis