Angiotensin-(1-7) inhibits vascular calcification in rats

► The endogenous levels of ACE2 and the Mas receptor were increased in calcified aortas. ► Ang-(1-7) inhibited the development of vascular calcification in rats. ► Ang-(1-7) prevented the loss of lineage markers and attenuated the osteogenic transition of vascular smooth muscle cells. ► Ang-(1-7) reversed the upregulated levels of the ACE/Ang II/AT1 axis in calcified arota.