RUNX2 and atherosclerosis: Thirdly, we found that sclerostin overexpression in VSMCs, in vitro, is involved in the decrease of calcium deposits in a calcified environment, as well as, in cell survival and in the regulation of the expression of different bone markers such as ALPL and RUNX2 and inflammatory genes such as IL1β, IL6 and IL8. Therefore, these findings suggest that the sclerostin increase may have a protective role on atherosclerosis development in T2D population.