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Open AccessReview
Converging Mechanisms of Vascular and Cartilaginous Calcification
by
Simona R. Gheorghe
Simona R. Gheorghe 1,
Alexandra M. Crăciun
Alexandra M. Crăciun 1,
Tamás Ilyés
Tamás Ilyés 1,
Ioana Badiu Tisa
Ioana Badiu Tisa 2,
Lucia Sur
Lucia Sur 3,
Iulia Lupan
Iulia Lupan 4,
Gabriel Samasca
Gabriel Samasca 5,* and
Ciprian N. Silaghi
Ciprian N. Silaghi 1
1
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
2
Department of Pediatrics III, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400217 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
3
Department of Pediatrics I, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400370 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
4
Department of Molecular Biology, Babes-Bolyai University, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
5
Department of Immunology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Submission received: 29 June 2024
/
Revised: 19 July 2024
/
Accepted: 24 July 2024
/
Published: 26 July 2024
Simple Summary
The normal calcification process is essential for bone formation, but calcification found elsewhere can result in cardiovascular and joint complications. Ectopic calcification, influenced by factors such as hormonal imbalance and oxidative stress, can impact soft tissues and becomes more prevalent with age and chronic illness. The stiffening of soft tissues due to calcification is a complex process influenced by cell type, interactions, the extracellular matrix, and mechanical forces. Understanding these mechanisms is vital for developing treatments for calcification-related complications. This review explores the similarities between vascular and cartilage calcifications, offering insights into both normal and pathological aspects.
Abstract
Physiological calcification occurs in bones and epiphyseal cartilage as they grow, whereas ectopic calcification occurs in blood vessels, cartilage, and soft tissues. Although it was formerly thought to be a passive and degenerative process associated with aging, ectopic calcification has been identified as an active cell-mediated process resembling osteogenesis, and an increasing number of studies have provided evidence for this paradigm shift. A significant association between vascular calcification and cardiovascular risk has been demonstrated by various studies, which have shown that arterial calcification has predictive value for future coronary events. With respect to cartilaginous calcification, calcium phosphate or hydroxyapatite crystals can form asymptomatic deposits in joints or periarticular tissues, contributing to the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, tendinitis, and bursitis. The risk factors and sequence of events that initiate ectopic calcification, as well as the mechanisms that prevent the development of this pathology, are still topics of debate. Consequently, in this review, we focus on the nexus of the mechanisms underlying vascular and cartilaginous calcifications, trying to circumscribe the similarities and disparities between them to provide more clarity in this regard.
Share and Cite
MDPI and ACS Style
Gheorghe, S.R.; Crăciun, A.M.; Ilyés, T.; Tisa, I.B.; Sur, L.; Lupan, I.; Samasca, G.; Silaghi, C.N.
Converging Mechanisms of Vascular and Cartilaginous Calcification. Biology 2024, 13, 565.
https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13080565
AMA Style
Gheorghe SR, Crăciun AM, Ilyés T, Tisa IB, Sur L, Lupan I, Samasca G, Silaghi CN.
Converging Mechanisms of Vascular and Cartilaginous Calcification. Biology. 2024; 13(8):565.
https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13080565
Chicago/Turabian Style
Gheorghe, Simona R., Alexandra M. Crăciun, Tamás Ilyés, Ioana Badiu Tisa, Lucia Sur, Iulia Lupan, Gabriel Samasca, and Ciprian N. Silaghi.
2024. "Converging Mechanisms of Vascular and Cartilaginous Calcification" Biology 13, no. 8: 565.
https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13080565
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