| [ Summary ] |
Vascular calcification is a common condition and is associated with aging, chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Coronary arteries may develop calcium deposits influenced by atherosclerotic plaque stability, and possibly the incidence of acute coronary syndrome, depending on the size and distribution of the deposits. In addition, vascular calcification, especially medial artery calcification, decreases the compliance of vessels, which increases pulse pressure. This, therefore, increases cardiac load, which eventually leads to left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction. Thus, vascular calcification has a profound effect on the risk of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Once considered to be a passive and unregulated process, vascular calcification is now known to be an active and tightly regulated phenomenon, in which a variety of osteogenic regulatory factors are involved. Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) has been implicated in vascular calcification. BMP2 is expressed in atherosclerotic plaques in relation to increased expression of osteogenic transcription factors such as Msx2 and Runx2, and with decreased expression of SMC-markers. Further understanding the molecular mechanisms of vascular calcification is required for the development of more efficacious strategies to prevent cardiovascular disease in diabetics and CKD patients. |