Occlusive arterial disease, including coronary heart disease (CHD) and peripheral arterial
disease (PAD), is the main cause of death, with an annual mortality incidence predicted to …

Cardiovascular calcification is a health disorder with increasing prevalence and high
morbidity and mortality. The only available therapeutic options for calcific vascular and …

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is the end result of active cellular processes that lead to
the progressive fibrosis and calcification of aortic valve leaflets. In western populations …

Tissue engineered heart valves offer a promising alternative for the replacement of diseased
heart valves avoiding the limitations faced with currently available bioprosthetic and …

During every heartbeat, cardiac valves open and close coordinately to control the
unidirectional flow of blood. In this dynamically challenging environment, resident valve cells …

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health care burden affecting billions of individuals
worldwide. The kidney has limited regenerative capacity from chronic insults, and for the …

Background: Calcification of the aortic valve leads to increased leaflet stiffness and
consequently to the development of calcific aortic valve disease. However, the underlying …

Aims The morbidity and mortality rates of calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) remain high
while treatment options are limited. Here, we evaluated the role and therapeutic value of …

Normal aortic valves are composed of valve endothelial cells (VECs) and valve interstitial
cells (VICs). VICs are the major cell population and have distinct embryonic origins in the …

Background Ectopic vascular calcification is a common condition associated with aging,
atherosclerosis, diabetes, and/or chronic kidney disease. Smooth muscle cells are the best …