title: Zooming in on the genesis of atherosclerotic plaque microcalcifications.
abstract: Epidemiological evidence conclusively demonstrates that calcium burden is a significant predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality; however, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. These observations have challenged the previously held notion that calcification serves to stabilize the atherosclerotic plaque. Recent studies have shown that microcalcifications that form within the fibrous cap of the plaques lead to the accrual of plaque-destabilizing mechanical stress. Given the association between calcification morphology and cardiovascular outcomes, it is important to understand the mechanisms leading to calcific mineral deposition and growth from the earliest stages. We highlight the open questions in the field of cardiovascular calcification and include a review of the proposed mechanisms involved in extracellular vesicle-mediated mineral deposition.
authors.affiliation: Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, City College of New York, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Sheldon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weinbaum
authors.affiliation: Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.|Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aikawa
authors.affiliation: Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hutcheson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*