Dorsomorphin homologue 1, a highly selective small-molecule bone morphogenetic protein inhibitor, suppresses medial artery calcification

Arterial calcification strongly predicts inferior outcomes in patients with peripheral artery disease, including amputation and death. The pathologic mechanisms that control it are poorly understood, and therapeutic agents aimed at limiting it are not currently available. In this manuscript, we demonstrate that the highly selective bone morphogenetic protein inhibitor dorsomorphin homologue 1 reduces calcium accumulation and osteogenic transformation in smooth muscle cells and in an organ culture model of medial artery calcification.