Vascular Calcification： Current Genetics Underlying This Complex Phenomenon

• Published in: Chinese medical journal 2017-05, Vol.130 (9), p.1113-1121
• Main Author: Nonanzit Perez-Hernandez Gad Aptilon-Duque Ruben Blachman-Braun Gilberto Vargas-Alarcon Adrian Asael Rodriguez-Cortes Shely Azrad-Daniez Rosalinda Posadas-Sanchez Jose Manuel Rodriguez-Perez
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atherosclerosis; Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular Risk; Genetics; Polymorphisms; Vascular Calcification; Calcification; Calcium phosphates; Cardiology; Cardiovascular disease; Coronary vessels; Diabetes Mellitus - metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus - physiopathology; Dyslipidemias - metabolism; Dyslipidemias - physiopathology; Genetics; Humans; Hydroxyapatite; Hypertension; Kidney Failure, Chronic - metabolism; Kidney Failure, Chronic - physiopathology; Kinases; Medical imaging; Molecular biology; Pathology; PubMed; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic - metabolism; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic - physiopathology; Review; Smooth muscle; Studies; Tomography; Tunica Intima - metabolism; Tunica Intima - physiopathology; Tunica Media - metabolism; Tunica Media - physiopathology; Vascular Calcification - metabolism; Vascular Calcification - physiopathology; Veins & arteries; 动脉粥样硬化; 复杂现象; 环境因素; 病理生理学; 血管; 遗传学基础; 钙化
• ISSN: 0366-6999; 2542-5641
• DOI: 10.4103/0366-6999.204931

Objective： Vascular calcification is the consequence of the complex interaction between genetic, environmental, and vascular factors, which ultimately lead to the deposition of calcium in the tunica intima （atherosclerotic calcification） or tunica media （M6nckenberg＇s sclerosis）. Vascular calcification is also closely related to other pathologies, such as diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and chronic kidney disease. It has been concluded that the degree of vascular calcification may vary from person to person, even if the associated pathologies and environmental factors are the same. Therefore, this suggests an important genetic contribution to the development of vascular calcification. This review aimed to find the most recent evidence about vascular calcification pathophysiology regarding the genetic aspects and molecular pathways. Data Sources： We conducted an exhaustive search in Scopus, EBSCO, and PubMed with the keywords ＂genetics and vascular calcification＂, ＂molecular pathways, genetic and vascular calcification＂ and included the main articles from January 1995 up to August 2016. We focused on the most recent evidence about vascular calcification pathophysiology regarding the genetic aspects and molecular pathways. Study Selection： The most valuable published original and review articles related to our objective were selected. Results： Vascular calcification is a multifactorial disease; thus, its pathophysiology cannot be explained by a single specific factor, rather than by the result of the association of several genetic variants, molecular pathway interactions, and environmental factors that promote its development. Conclusion： Although several molecular aspects of this mechanism have been elucidated, there is still a need for a better understanding of the factors that predispose to this disease.