Vascular disease, such as atherosclerosis and diabetic vasculopathy, is frequently
complicated by vascular calcification. Previously believed to be an end-stage process of
unregulated mineral precipitation, it is now well established to be a multi-faceted disease
influenced by the characteristics of its vascular location, the origins of calcifying cells and
numerous regulatory pathways. It reflects the fundamental plasticity of the vasculature that is
gradually being revealed by progress in vascular and stem cell biology. This review …