Abstract 18333: Tdag51 Deficiency Protects Against Aortic Vascular Calcification by Attenuating Smooth Muscle Cell Death and Osteoblastic Trans-Differentiation

Vascular Calcification (VC), a severe complication increasing the risk of cardiovascular (CV) mortality and morbidity in ageing, diabetic and chronic renal failure patients. VC occurs as vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) differentiate into osteoblast- like cells or undergoing apoptosis, resulting in arterial stiffness, elevated pulse pressure (PP) and left ventricular hypertrophy. Yet, molecular mechanisms modulating VSMC differentiation and …