The role of osteoprogenitors in vascular calcification

Calcification is a component of vascular disease that usually occurs in con cert with atheroma formation but through distinct pathophysiological proces ses. Vessel wall osteoprogenitor cells known as calcifying vascular cells c an form bone matrix proteins and calcified nodules, analogous to osteoblast ic differentiation in bone, These cells have been isolated from the tunica media of bovine and human arteries, and both in-vitro tissue culture models and mouse models of vascular calcification have been established. Studies of the effects of diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, estrogens and glucocor ticoids on calcifying vascular cell function provide insight into the relat ionship between common human disease states and vascular calcification. Cur r Opin Nephrol Hypertens 9:11-15. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.