| Abstrakt: |
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. 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
