Calcifying Matrix Vesicles and Atherosclerosis

Figure 1

Pathways of microcalcification in the atherosclerotic plaque. The major sources of calcification are apoptotic cells derived from foam cells of macrophage or vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) origin and calcifying matrix vesicles released by VSMCs that lost their contractile phenotype and acquired increased synthetic and proliferative activity. Accumulating calcified plates can cause rupture of the plaque and thrombus formation.