[Molecular mechanisms of vascular calcification]

Abstract

Vascular calcification is an active process similar to physiological mineralization of skeletal tissues. Not only apoptosis, cellular senescence, and osteochondrogenic transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells, but also degeneration and degradation of elastin may play an important role in its developmental process. Vascular calcification is induced by the interactions among various regulatory molecules for calcification in the progression of atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis.