Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 28, 2025
08:43
Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Imaging of Aortic Calcification and Inflammation
Published on: May 31, 2016
19.6K
Roles of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in Atherosclerotic Calcification
Sang-Ho Woo1, Dae-Yong Kim1, Jae-Hoon Choi2
1Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Journal of Lipid and Atherosclerosis
|June 2, 2023
Summary
Vascular smooth muscle cells contribute to vascular calcification by undergoing an osteoblastic switch in atherosclerotic plaques. This review explores the molecular mechanisms driving this process in advanced atherosclerosis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Vascular Biology
- Atherosclerosis Research
Background:
- Calcium accumulation in atherosclerotic plaques correlates with disease burden.
- Atherosclerotic calcification originates in the necrotic core, involving cell death and inflammation.
- Vascular smooth muscle cells are implicated as key osteochondrogenic cells in atherosclerosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the molecular mechanisms behind the osteochondrogenic switch of vascular smooth muscle cells.
- To understand the cellular processes contributing to vascular calcification in atherosclerosis.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of molecular mechanisms.
- Analysis of cellular differentiation pathways in atherosclerotic plaques.
Main Results:
- Vascular smooth muscle cells are a major source of osteochondrogenic cells.
- Inflammatory processes in atherosclerosis promote this cellular transformation.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the molecular mechanisms of vascular smooth muscle cell osteogenic switch is crucial for targeting vascular calcification.
- Further research into these pathways may reveal therapeutic strategies for advanced atherosclerosis.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Atherosclerosis I: Introduction
14
Atherosclerosis is a progressive disorder characterized by the buildup of plaques on the arterial inner wall, causing them to narrow and harden over time. These plaques comprise lipids, calcium, blood components, carbohydrates, and fibrous tissue. The process primarily affects the intima of large and medium-sized arteries, reducing blood flow in any artery.Etiology and risk factorsThe cause of atherosclerosis is multifactorial, involving a complex interplay among endothelial injury, lipid...
14
01:18Antihypertensive Drugs: Action of Calcium Channel Blockers
592
Calcium ions are essential to contract smooth muscle cells in blood vessels. They enter these cells through voltage-dependent calcium channels, specifically L-type calcium channels in the cell membrane. These L-type calcium channels are integral to the excitation-contraction coupling process in smooth muscle. When a stimulus is received by smooth muscle cells, their membrane depolarizes. This alteration in membrane potential instigates the opening of L-type calcium channels. As a result,...
592
01:26Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology
16
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) originates from a series of events that impair the function of coronary arteries, the blood vessels responsible for delivering oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. The pathophysiology of CAD is closely linked to atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory and lipid-driven condition affecting the vascular endothelium.1. Endothelial DamageThe process begins with damage to the vascular endothelium, which serves as a protective barrier between the blood and the vessel...
16
01:25Smooth Muscle Contraction
3.3K
Smooth muscle contraction is a complex process vital for various bodily functions, from maintaining blood vessel tension to facilitating the movement of food through the digestive tract. Unlike striated muscles, smooth muscle contraction begins more slowly and lasts longer.
The onset of contraction is triggered by an increase in calcium ions within the sarcoplasm, similar to the process in striated muscle. However, smooth muscles have a relatively smaller reservoir of the sarcoplasmic...
The onset of contraction is triggered by an increase in calcium ions within the sarcoplasm, similar to the process in striated muscle. However, smooth muscles have a relatively smaller reservoir of the sarcoplasmic...
3.3K
01:38Inflammation
54.0K
Overview
54.0K
01:15Structure of Blood Vessels
5.2K
Blood is circulated throughout the human body through a network of blood vessels called the circulatory system. This system includes arteries that transport blood from the heart to various body parts. These arterial pathways divide into smaller vessels until they reach the arterioles, which further split into capillaries. It is within these minuscule capillaries that the exchange of nutrients and waste products takes place. After this exchange, the blood is collected by venules, which fuse to...
5.2K