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Review
. 2015 Jul;72(13):2475-89.
doi: 10.1007/s00018-015-1876-4. Epub 2015 Mar 8.

Inflammation: a culprit for vascular calcification in atherosclerosis and diabetes

L Bessueille  1 , D Magne
Affiliations
Review

Inflammation: a culprit for vascular calcification in atherosclerosis and diabetes

L Bessueille et al. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2015 Jul.

Abstract

It is today acknowledged that aging is associated with a low-grade chronic inflammatory status, and that inflammation exacerbates age-related diseases such as osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Vascular calcification is a complication that also occurs during aging, in particular in association with atherosclerosis and T2DM. Recent studies provided compelling evidence that vascular calcification is associated with inflammatory status and is enhanced by inflammatory cytokines. In the present review, we propose on one hand to highlight the most important and recent findings on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of vascular inflammation in atherosclerosis and T2DM. On the other hand, we will present the effects of inflammatory mediators on the trans-differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cell and on the deposition of crystals. Since vascular calcification significantly impacts morbidity and mortality in affected individuals, a better understanding of its induction and development will pave the way to develop new therapeutic strategies.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Transcription factors and markers involved in osteoblast or chondrocyte differentiation from mesenchymal progenitors. DMP dentin matrix protein, HIF hypoxia inducible factor, MMP matrix metalloprotease, TNAP tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Induction of tissue mineralization by matrix vesicles. ANKH ankylosis protein homolog, ENPP1 ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase phosphodiesterase 1, PP i inorganic pyrophosphate, TNAP tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Induction and pro-calcifying effects of inflammatory cytokines in atherosclerosis and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Arrows references and words in brown concern atherosclerosis; arrows, references and words in blue concern more specifically T2DM, and arrows, references and words appearing in black concern cytokine effects on VSMC “trans-differentiation” and mineralization, which are likely to concern both atherosclerosis and T2DM
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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