Ectopic calcification refers to the appearance of osteoblasts in soft tissues and the formation of bone-like tissue. It mostly occurs around large joints, such as hip joints, elbow joints, also in various soft tissues including blood vessels, heart valves, lungs, kidneys, and brain. The pathogenesis of ectopic calcification disease, which usually occurs in patients with nerve paralysis, remains unclear. The predisposing factors may be neurological and bioelectrical. Although oxidative stress and inflammation have been identified as the key determinants of soft tissue calcification, it is initiated and regulated by a series of complex molecular signaling pathways, which is still not fully understood. Further studies are needed to fully elucidate the molecular mechanism of ectopic calcification and discover potential drugs to prevent its occurrence and progression.
Once considered passive precipitation of calcium and phosphate, ectopic calcification is now seen as a complex process actively regulated by several circulating and local factors. It is hard to prevent ectopic calcification due to unclear pathogenesis. Accordingly, there is lacking effective therapeutic drugs in preventing ectopic calcification, and it is prone to recurrence during the therapy process. This Research Topic aims to highlight basic and translational studies looking at novel drugs and therapeutic substances for the treatment and prevention of ectopic calcification in soft tissues. The articles within this collection will also help advance the understanding of mechanisms that initiate ectopic calcification diseases. To achieve this objective, we would like to explore the advanced technologies and perspectives in drug targets discovery, molecular mechanism elucidation, bioactive factor delivery in ectopic calcification diseases.
For this Research Topic, our prime focus would be on the discovery of novel therapeutic substances including natural or synthesis compounds, molecular peptides, or other bioactive factors for the treatment of extraosseous ectopic calcification including the calcific diseases of cartilage, tendon, ligament, blood vessels, heart valves, lungs, kidney, and brain. We welcome Original Research and Review articles focused on but are not limited to, pharmacological research, molecular targets discovery, preclinical assessments of novel therapeutic or preventive treatments for the ectopic calcifications, and mechanistic studies that help in understanding the extraosseous ectopic calcification diseases.
Important note: All manuscripts submitted to this collection will need to follow the Guidelines for the conception/peer-review of submissions of the Experimental Pharmacology and Drug Discovery Section. Studies carried out with crude extracts/multiherbal preparations or Original Research based solely on in silico techniques will not be considered for review. Clinical studies will not be processed in this RT.
Ectopic calcification refers to the appearance of osteoblasts in soft tissues and the formation of bone-like tissue. It mostly occurs around large joints, such as hip joints, elbow joints, also in various soft tissues including blood vessels, heart valves, lungs, kidneys, and brain. The pathogenesis of ectopic calcification disease, which usually occurs in patients with nerve paralysis, remains unclear. The predisposing factors may be neurological and bioelectrical. Although oxidative stress and inflammation have been identified as the key determinants of soft tissue calcification, it is initiated and regulated by a series of complex molecular signaling pathways, which is still not fully understood. Further studies are needed to fully elucidate the molecular mechanism of ectopic calcification and discover potential drugs to prevent its occurrence and progression.
Once considered passive precipitation of calcium and phosphate, ectopic calcification is now seen as a complex process actively regulated by several circulating and local factors. It is hard to prevent ectopic calcification due to unclear pathogenesis. Accordingly, there is lacking effective therapeutic drugs in preventing ectopic calcification, and it is prone to recurrence during the therapy process. This Research Topic aims to highlight basic and translational studies looking at novel drugs and therapeutic substances for the treatment and prevention of ectopic calcification in soft tissues. The articles within this collection will also help advance the understanding of mechanisms that initiate ectopic calcification diseases. To achieve this objective, we would like to explore the advanced technologies and perspectives in drug targets discovery, molecular mechanism elucidation, bioactive factor delivery in ectopic calcification diseases.
For this Research Topic, our prime focus would be on the discovery of novel therapeutic substances including natural or synthesis compounds, molecular peptides, or other bioactive factors for the treatment of extraosseous ectopic calcification including the calcific diseases of cartilage, tendon, ligament, blood vessels, heart valves, lungs, kidney, and brain. We welcome Original Research and Review articles focused on but are not limited to, pharmacological research, molecular targets discovery, preclinical assessments of novel therapeutic or preventive treatments for the ectopic calcifications, and mechanistic studies that help in understanding the extraosseous ectopic calcification diseases.
Important note: All manuscripts submitted to this collection will need to follow the Guidelines for the conception/peer-review of submissions of the Experimental Pharmacology and Drug Discovery Section. Studies carried out with crude extracts/multiherbal preparations or Original Research based solely on in silico techniques will not be considered for review. Clinical studies will not be processed in this RT.