Nicotine Promotes Vascular Calcification via Intracellular Ca²⁺-Mediated, Nox5-Induced Oxidative Stress and Extracellular Vesicle Release in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Researchers investigated the effects of nicotine on initiation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) calcification. In vitro, nicotine induced human primary VSMC calcification, increased osteogenic gene expression, and extracellular vesicle secretion.