Topic: Vascular Calcification in Cardiovascular diseases and Aging

Vascular calcification is a common pathological process in cardiovascular aging and a wide range of cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Increasing evidence indicates that vascular calcification is an active and highly regulated process, involving vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic transition, cellular senescence, inflammation, oxidative stress, metabolic dysfunction, and dysregulated mineral metabolism.

Recent advances have revealed complex interactions between aging-related cellular and molecular alterations and calcification-associated signaling pathways. Emerging studies have highlighted the roles of mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetic regulation, non-coding RNAs, extracellular vesicles, and intercellular communication in vascular calcification, while multi-omics approaches are providing new insights into the cellular heterogeneity and regulatory networks underlying calcification progression.

This Special Issue aims to provide an integrated platform for exploring the molecular and cellular mechanisms of vascular calcification in cardiovascular diseases and aging. We welcome Original Research Articles, Reviews, and other relevant contributions addressing the mechanisms, risk factors, biomarkers, cellular regulation, and potential therapeutic strategies related to vascular calcification. Studies providing novel mechanistic and translational insights into the prevention and treatment of age-related vascular calcification and cardiovascular diseases are particularly encouraged.

Vascular calcification, cardiovascular aging, vascular smooth muscle cells, cellular senescence, inflammation, oxidative stress, biomarker, mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetic regulation, cardiovascular diseases