The role of osteoprogenitors in vascular calcification : Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension (original) (raw)

Review Article

aDepartment of Medicine and bDepartment of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Correspondence to Clay F Semenkovich, Washington University School of Medicine, Box 8046 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. Tel: +1 314 362 4454; fax: +1 314 747 4477; e-mail: [email protected]

Abbreviations

AGE: advanced glycosylation end product

ALP: alkaline phosphatase

BVSMC: bovine vascular smooth muscle cells

CAMP: cyclic AMP

CVC: calcifying vascular cell

HVSMC: human vascular smooth muscle cells

MGP: matrix γ-carboxyglutamic acid containing protein

Abstract

Calcification is a component of vascular disease that usually occurs in concert with atheroma formation but through distinct pathophysiological processes. Vessel wall osteoprogenitor cells known as calcifying vascular cells can form bone matrix proteins and calcified nodules, analogous to osteoblastic differentiation in bone. These cells have been isolated from the tunica media of bovine and human arteries, and both in-vitro tissue culture models and mouse models of vascular calcification have been established. Studies of the effects of diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, estrogens and glucocorticoids on calcifying vascular cell function provide insight into the relationship between common human disease states and vascular calcification.