Sclerostin, as a bone-derived secreted glycoprotein, is a suppressor of Wnt signaling pathway. Recently, adverse cardiovascular events in the treatment of osteoporosis with sclerostin inhibitors have raised concerns about the association of sclerostin with atherosclerotic heart disease. Whether the role of sclerostin in atherosclerotic heart disease is harmful or beneficial is not clear. This article reviews the progress of the mechanisms of sclerostin in vascular calcification and atherosclerotic heart disease, focusing on the relationship between sclerostin and vascular calcification, the impact of its concentration changes on atherosclerotic heart disease, and the effect of sclerostin inhibitor on cardiovascular events.
Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) has long been used as a biomarker for the liver, kidney, and bone. Currently, increasing evidence suggests a correlation between serum ALP and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Research has shown that serum ALP affects endothelial cell function and induces changes in pyrophosphate through various mechanisms to accelerate vascular calcification and promote cardiac fibrosis. Therefore, this article reviews the potential value of serum ALP in CVD through relevant research, revealing the specific relationship between serum ALP and CVD, in order to provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of CVD.
Vascular calcification is an active, adjustable and complex biological process. It is an independent hazard factor for cardiovascular events and there is a lack of effective treatment. As a newly discovered regulated cell death, ferroptosis is closely related to iron metabolism, lipid metabolism, glutathione metabolism and so on. In recent years, studies have shown that ferroptosis may be implicated in the occurrence and progression of vascular calcification. Based on the introduction of ferroptosis, this review will discuss the close relationship between ferroptosis and vascular calcification from intimal calcification, medial calcification and heart valve calcification, in order to provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of vascular calcification.
