Elastin calcification in in vitro models and its prevention by MGP's N-terminal peptide.

Medial calcification has been associated with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and genetic disorders like pseudoxanthoma elasticum. Recently, we showed that genetic reduction of arterial elastin content reduces the severity of medial calcification in matrix Gla protein (MGP)-deficient and Eln haploinsufficient Mgp-/-;Eln+/- mice. This study suggests that there might be a direct effect of elastin amount on medial calcification.