| [ Summary ] |
Calcified lesions of arterial walls can be classified into intimal atherosclerotic calcification and Monckeberg's medial calcinosis according to their sites of development. Vascular mesenchymal cells, especially vascular smooth muscle cells play pivotal roles in the development of both forms of calcified lesions, although their etiologies may be different. Recent progress in vascular biology suggests that apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells and chondrogenic osteogenic differentiation of vascular mesenchymal cells including smooth muscle cells may be involved in the development of vascular calcification. Inorganic phosphate(Pi) may stimulate these two processes through Pi transport by sodium-dependent phosphate cotransporter. Therefore, hyperphosphatemia may induce vascular calcification through its direct action on vascular wall cells. |