[Biomarkers of vascular calcifications: the osteoprotegerin/RANK/RANK L axis]

A better knowledge of physiopathologic phenomena responsible for vascular mineralization leads to emerging biological markers of vascular calcifications. In calcified arteries, the presence of bone matrix as well as osteoblast cells suggest that vascular calcification is an active and highly regulated process. The OPG/RANK/RANKL system is clearly of central significance in controlling vascular calcifications as in bone metabolism. Converging results suggest that circulating OPG determination should be a relevant marker of calcifications. The OPG/RANK/RANKL pathway also represents a potential therapeutic target in diseases associated with high bone resorption.