Vascular calcification: How an evolutionary approach may help to shed light on its significance

Editorial of Demer and Tintut [1] in this Journal put forward the interesting hypothesis that vascular calcification (VC) may have an adaptive value as an immunological defense to pathogens. We go along with this, and propose that VC may function as a welcome mechanical immunological defense—an adaptation—in cells like cardiomyocytes with low or no capacity to regenerate [2]. However, it is wrong to assume that adaptations promote health they do, only if health promotes reproductive success, that is, Darwinian fitness [3].
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - Category: Cardiology Authors: Source Type: research