Medial vascular calcification

Here, we describe methods to evaluate the ability of small molecules inhibitors of TNAP and PHOSPHOl in preventing mineralization of primary cultures of murine vascular smooth muscle cells. The procedures are also applicable to primary cultures of calvarial osteoblasts. These cell-based assays are used to complement kinetic testing during structure-activity relationship studies armed at improving scaffolds in the generation of pharmaceuticals for the treatment for medial vascular calcification. 

Medial localization of mineralizationregulating proteins in association with Monckeberg s sclerosis evidence for smooth muscle cell-mediated vascular calcification. Circulation 100 2168-2176... 

Markello TC, Pak LK, St HC et al (2011) Vascular pathology of medial arterial calcifications in NT5E deficiency implications for the role of adenosine in pseudoxanthoma elasti-cum. Mol Genet Metab 103 44-50... 

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