title: Biology of vascular calcification in renal disease.
abstract: The high rates of atherosclerotic vascular disease in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) cannot be fully explained by the excess of traditional risk factors. Interest has therefore arisen in the possible role of vascular calcification, which is increased in these patients and may effect plaque stability and have detrimental hemodynamic consequences. Considerable evidence has accumulated recently pointing to the regulated nature of the calcification process. The initiation of calcium crystal formation appears to require the presence of small membrane bound vesicles released by living or apoptotic cells. The cellular release, content and phagocytosis of these vesicles appear to be important regulatory pathways in vascular calcification. Better understanding of these mechanisms may have therapeutic potential in reducing the adverse cardiovascular event rates in patients with (ESRD).
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Cornell University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Afshin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farzaneh-Far
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Shanahan
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D022162:Cytoplasmic Vesicles / Q000737:chemistry; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010587:Phagocytosis; D010710:Phosphates / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D000097568:Matrix Gla Protein
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D010710:Phosphates; D000097568:Matrix Gla Protein