Vascular calcification refers to the pathological deposition of calcium and phosphate minerals into the vasculature. It is prevalent in atherosclerosis, ageing, type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease, thus, increasing morbidity and mortality from these conditions. Vascular calcification shares similar mechanisms with bone mineralization, with smooth muscle cells playing a critical role in both processes. In the last decade, a variety of microRNAs have been identified as key regulators for the differentiation, phenotypic switch, proliferation, apoptosis, cytokine production and matrix deposition in vascular smooth muscle cells during vascular calcification. Therefore, this review mainly discusses the roles of microRNAs in the pathophysiological mechanisms of vascular calcification in smooth muscle cells and describes several interventions against vascular calcification by regulating microRNAs. As the exact mechanisms of calcification remain not fully elucidated, having a better understanding of microRNA involvement in vascular calcification may give impetus to development of novel therapeutics for the control and treatment of vascular calcification.

中文翻译：

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MicroRNAs 在血管钙化过程中调节平滑肌细胞矿化和细胞凋亡至关重要

血管钙化是指钙和磷酸盐矿物质在血管中的病理性沉积。它在动脉粥样硬化、衰老、2 型糖尿病和慢性肾病中很普遍，因此会增加这些疾病的发病率和死亡率。血管钙化与骨矿化具有相似的机制，平滑肌细胞在这两个过程中都起着关键作用。在过去十年中，多种 microRNA 已被确定为血管钙化过程中血管平滑肌细胞分化、表型转换、增殖、凋亡、细胞因子产生和基质沉积的关键调节因子。所以，这篇综述主要讨论了microRNAs在平滑肌细胞血管钙化的病理生理机制中的作用，并描述了几种通过调节microRNAs来对抗血管钙化的干预措施。由于钙化的确切机制仍未完全阐明，更好地了解 microRNA 参与血管钙化可能会推动开发用于控制和治疗血管钙化的新疗法。