Aim To investigate the effects of advanced glycation end products(AGE) on calcification in cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMC). Methods To induce calcification,VSMC were treated with 10 mmol/L β-glycerophosphate(β-GP) with the indicated concentrations of AGE-BSA or non-glycated BSA for various periods of time.Calcium deposition,the activity and mRNA expression of alkaline phosphatase(ALP),as well as core band factor α-1(Cbfα-1) and osteopontin(OPN) were used to identify osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization in VSMC induced by AGE-BSA. Results AGE increased calcium deposition in VSMC in time-and dose-dependent manners.Mechanistic studies revealed that elevated AGE treatment of VSMC enhanced the activity and mRNA of alkaline phosphatase,as well as the expression of Cbfα-1 and its downstream protein osteopontin. Conclusion The results suggest that AGE accumulated in diabetes could elicit the osteoblastic differentiation of VSMC,thereby contributing to vascular calcification.