Calcification of Human Endothelial Cells: Role of BMP signaling under mechanical stress and hypoxia - Softcover

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How do endothelial cells lose their identity-and why does calcification begin?Vascular calcification is a silent but dangerous process that stiffens arteries and accelerates cardiovascular disease. Rather than being a passive consequence of aging, this experimental study reveals calcification as an actively regulated response driven by endothelial cell plasticity and the surrounding microenvironment.Using human endothelial cell cultures, this work investigates how endothelial cells undergo endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition, adopt osteogenic traits, and initiate calcium deposition. Advanced two- and three-dimensional in vitro models-including co-culture systems and self-designed mechanical stimulation platforms-were developed to mimic key vascular conditions without the use of animal or patient studies. Through controlled manipulation of inflammatory signals, BMP signaling, oxygen levels, and mechanical forces, this thesis demonstrates how specific molecular and physical cues promote or suppress calcification. Quantitative imaging-based analyses reveal that cell-cell communication, three-dimensional organization, and biomechanical stimuli critically shape endothelial fate.

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