How much interdisciplinarity is required to understand vascular calcifications? Formulation of four basic principles of vascular calcification.
Four potential basic mechanisms of arterial wall calcification were identified: 1) loss of inhibitory action on crystallization of biological macromolecules, 2) nucleation of calcium phosphate precipitation by dead cells and/or their membranes, 3) autocatalytic nucleation of cholesterol by antibodies against cholesterol crystals, and 4) formation of bone-like structures in advanced atherosclerotic lesions. The relevance and interplay of these mechanisms has not yet been clarified. Their elucidation will require a concerted effort of natural scientists and medical specialists.
Epple
M
M
Solid State Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany. matthias.epple@ruhr-uni-bochum.de
Lanzer
P
P
D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D003460:Crystallization; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology
D002130:Calcium Phosphates; C485828:alpha-tricalcium phosphate; C485830:tetracalcium phosphate; C485838:calcium phosphate, monobasic, anhydrous; D002784:Cholesterol; C020243:calcium phosphate; C485829:calcium phosphate, dibasic, anhydrous