title: Cell biological and physicochemical aspects of arterial calcification.
abstract: Processes similar to endochondral or intramembranous bone formation occur in the vascular wall. Bone and cartilage tissue as well as osteoblast- and chondrocyte-like cells are present in calcified arteries. As in bone formation, apoptosis and matrix vesicles play an important role in the initiation of vascular calcification. Recent evidence indicates that nanocrystals initially formed in the vessel wall may actively be involved in the progression of the calcification process. This review focuses on the cellular and structural similarities between bone formation and vascular calcification and discusses the initial events in this pathological mineralization process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Neven
authors.forename: Tineke M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: De Schutter
authors.forename: Marc E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: De Broe
authors.forename: Patrick C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: D'Haese
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001158:Arteries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016723:Bone Remodeling; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000378:metabolism; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology