[Molecular mechanism of vascular aging: impact of vascular smooth muscle cell calcification via cellular senescence].

Atherosclerotic vascular damage associated with aging manifest several features, namely atherosis, sclerosis and calcified change, finally leading to cardiovascular (CV) events. Accumulating recent reports show the importance of cellular senescence in atherosclerogenesis; however, few reports have addressed whether cellular senescence is associated with smooth muscle cells (SMC) calcification. Recent report has demonstrated the association of senescent phenotypic change with osteoblastic trans-differentiation in VSMC. In addition, our new findings show that the possibility of dynamic action of sirtuin, which is well known as a longevity gene, as a negative regulator in the cellular senescence-related vascular calcification. Strategies how to manage senescent phenotypic change in VSMC may provide novel therapeutic opportunities for the prevention of vascular calcification.