Extracellular vesicles in vascular calcification.

Vascular calcification is associated with adverse cardiovascular events that increase the risk of cardiovascular death. Unfortunately, the pathogenesis of vascular calcification is complex and incompletely understood. As important intercellular signaling molecules, the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in vascular calcification has attracted wide attention in recent years. This review will briefly describe the role of EVs (mainly including exosomes and microvesicles) in the process of vascular wall calcification focusing on the specific mechanisms of smooth muscle cell (SMC) differentiation and calcium-phosphorus balance to illustrate the relationship between EVs and vascular calcification. It is likely that EVs may be prognostic markers in some cardiovascular diseases and have potential therapeutic potential. • Vascular calcification is an abnormal mineralization that occurs in the cardiovascular system. • Vascular calcification results in reduced elasticity of the vessel wall and impaired vascular structural integrity. • EVs promote vascular calcification through smooth muscle differentiation, calcium‑phosphorus balance and Other mechanisms. • EVs have Marking and therapeutic effects in vascular calcification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]