How much interdisciplinarity is required to understand vascular calcifications? Formulation of four basic principles of vascular calcification.

Four potential basic mechanisms of arterial wall calcification were identified: 1) loss of inhibitory action on crystallization of biological macromolecules, 2) nucleation of calcium phosphate precipitation by dead cells and/or their membranes, 3) autocatalytic nucleation of cholesterol by antibodies against cholesterol crystals, and 4) formation of bone-like structures in advanced atherosclerotic lesions. The relevance and interplay of these mechanisms has not yet been clarified. Their elucidation will require a concerted effort of natural scientists and medical specialists.