Experimental and Clinical Methods to Study Pathologic Calcification of Soft Tissues

TOPICAL COLLECTIONS

Guest Editor

Sonia Nasi

University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Department of Musculoskeletal System, Laboratory of Rheumatology

Dr. Sonia Nasi obtained her PhD in Life Sciences from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, in 2015 and has studied the mechanisms, effects, and treatments of pathologic calcification in musculoskeletal diseases, such as osteoarthritis and chondrocalcinosis extensively. She then moved for a post-doc at the University of Münster, Germany, where she extended her investigations to calcific tendinopathy. Since 2021, she has been Principal Investigator in the Laboratory of Rheumatology, University Hospital of Lausanne, pursuing her research on how extracellular matrix changes can influence pathologic calcification. In parallel to her academic role, she is co-founder of Sulfiscon SA, a start-up company aimed at discovering new molecules to treat calcification disorders in men.

Collection Overview

Pathological calcification (PC), also known as heterotopic calcification, is the deposition of calcium-containing crystals in tissues that normally do not calcify. This can lead to various diseases affecting musculoskeletal tissues (osteoarthritis and calcific tendinopathy), vessels (atherosclerosis, aortic valve calcification, chronic kidney disease), skin (calcinosis cutis), and others.

The advancement of knowledge in this common and disabling condition is indispensable, as no resolutive therapies exist to date. Moreover, the mechanisms involved in pathologic calcification remain largely unknown.

This Methods Collection is addressed to basic and clinical researchers in the field of PC, with expertise in different tissues such as cartilage, tendons, skin, vessels, and others.

It aims at 1) providing robust in vitro methods for the investigation of molecular mechanisms underlying PC. These include crystal-chemical synthesis, cellular assays, molecular assays; 2) proposing novel ex vivo or 3D models for the translational purpose. These include culture of human tissue explants, use of calcified scaffolds, etc.; 3) presenting in vivo animal models of PC. These encompass traumatic, genetic, and aging models in different organisms such as zebrafish and mice; 4) emphasizing existing and emerging techniques for calcium-containing crystal detection and diagnosis in men (digital radiography, conventional CT, ultrasound, digital mammography, micro-CT, dual-energy CT (DECT), ultrashort echo time (UTE) MRI, multi-energy photon-counting-detector CT (PCD-CT)).