Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 14, 2026

Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Imaging of Aortic Calcification and Inflammation
08:43

Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Imaging of Aortic Calcification and Inflammation

Published on: May 31, 2016

20.4K

Vascular Calcification: Is it rather a Stem/Progenitor Cells Driven Phenomenon?

Aleksandra Leszczynska1, J Mary Murphy2

  • 1Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States.

Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
|February 27, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Vascular calcification (VC) involves ectopic bone and cartilage formation in atherosclerosis. This review explores the role of progenitor cells in VC pathogenesis, challenging existing theories.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Vascular calcification (VC) is a significant factor in atherosclerosis, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality.
  • Current theories on VC pathogenesis, including response-to-injury and smooth muscle transdifferentiation, are incomplete.
  • The vasculature possesses a remarkable capacity for repair throughout life.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of circulating and resident progenitor cells in vascular calcification.
  • To discuss intrinsic cellular mechanisms driving ectopic cartilage and bone formation in atherosclerosis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on recent advancements in vascular calcification research.
  • Analysis of studies investigating progenitor cell involvement in atherogenesis and VC.

Main Results:

  • Emerging evidence highlights progenitor cells as key players in VC.
  • Intrinsic cellular mechanisms are crucial for determining cell fate in ectopic ossification.

Conclusions:

  • Progenitor cell involvement offers a new perspective on VC pathogenesis.
  • Further research into cellular mechanisms is needed to fully understand and treat VC in atherosclerosis.

Keywords:
atherosclerosispericytesprogenitor cellsstem cellsvascular calcification

More Related Videos

Analysis of Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Vascular Calcification Using In Vitro and In Vivo Models09:01

Analysis of Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Vascular Calcification Using In Vitro and In Vivo Models

Published on: January 27, 2023

2.1K
Sequential In vivo Imaging of Osteogenic Stem/Progenitor Cells During Fracture Repair10:30

Sequential In vivo Imaging of Osteogenic Stem/Progenitor Cells During Fracture Repair

Published on: May 23, 2014

11.1K

Related Concept Videos

Tip-of-the-Tongue Phenomenon01:10

Tip-of-the-Tongue Phenomenon

The tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) phenomenon is a cognitive experience characterized by a temporary inability to retrieve specific information from memory despite having a strong feeling of knowing the information. Although individuals cannot access the target word or detail, they frequently recall related elements, such as its initial letter, syllable count, or context. This partial retrieval often causes frustration, as one might recognize a familiar face or know that a name starts with a specific...
536
Adult Stem Cells01:33

Adult Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce more stem cells or progenitor cells that differentiate into mature, specialized cell types. All the cells in the body are generated from stem cells in the early embryo, but small populations of stem cells are also present in many adult tissues including the bone marrow, brain, skin, and gut. These adult stem cells typically produce the various cell types found in that tissue—to replace cells that are damaged or to continuously...
33.9K
Embryonic Stem Cells00:58

Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are undifferentiated pluripotent cells, meaning they can produce any cell type in the body. This gives them tremendous potential in science and medicine since they can generate specific cell types for use in research or to replace body cells lost due to damage or disease.
32.7K
Embryonic Stem Cells00:57

Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells were first discovered in mice in 1981 by Martin Evans. In 1998, James Thomson identified a method to isolate embryonic stem cells from humans. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are obtained from 3-5 day old embryos that remain unused after an in vitro fertilization procedure.
ES cells are grown in a culture medium where they can divide indefinitely, creating ES cell lines. Under certain conditions, ES cells can differentiate, either spontaneously into a variety of...
5.2K
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells01:13

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different types of cells. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are post-mitotic—that is, they no longer divide. However, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they “de-differentiate” and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are also pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are therefore...
28.1K
Seedless Vascular Plants03:24

Seedless Vascular Plants

Seedless Vascular Plants Were the First Tall Plants on Earth
67.9K