Editorial: Calcium homeostasis and cardiovascular health: mechanisms and therapeutic insights

Mingxiao Li et al. reviewed the role of "Endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria crosstalk: new mechanisms in the development of atherosclerosis" (Li et al., 2025). This review article comprehensively discussed how MAMs mediate key processes linked to atherogenesis, including lipid metabolism, calcium transport, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. The authors emphasized the dynamic regulation of MAM integrity and suggested that MAM-targeted therapies could be an innovative strategy for modulating plaque progression and cardiovascular risk.The review by Ya-Ping Fang et al. titled "The functional role of cellular senescence during vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease" (Fang et al., 2024) explored how senescent vascular cells promote vascular calcification through the release of microvesicles and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors. These mechanisms enhance osteogenic differentiation in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and impair vascular regeneration, suggesting that targeting cellular senescence may represent a promising strategy to mitigate VC in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.Shuangshuang Wang et al. contributed the mini-review "The emerging roles of irisin in vascular calcification" (Wang et al., 2024), which focused on the exercise-induced myokine irisin. This review highlighted irisin's protective role in modulating vascular inflammation, endothelial function, and VSMC phenotypic switching, likely via mechanisms involving calcium signaling and oxidative stress. The authors discussed how irisin may serve both as a predictor and a potential therapeutic modulator for vascular calcification and hypertension.Finally, the original research article by Qing-Yun Hao et al. titled "Observational and genetic association of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and calcific aortic valve disease" (Hao et al., 2024) identified an association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and increased risk of calcific aortic valve disease. =The link to ectopic calcification and systemic metabolic dysfunction provides critical context for calcium-driven cardiovascular pathologies.Together, these articles reflect the complex, multi-layered role of calcium homeostasis in cardiovascular disease.We thank all the contributing authors for their valuable insights and efforts. We hope this collection will inspire further exploration into calcium-centered mechanisms and therapeutic innovation in cardiovascular research.