Abstract: Disclosed are a method of treating or preventing a disorder in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal an adenosine receptor agonist or an adenosine receptor antagonist, either alone or in combination, in an amount effective to treat or prevent medial vascular or joint capsule calcification. Disclosed are methods of detecting or diagnosing a vascular or joint capsule calcification disorder, as well as a nucleic acid comprising a mutation in one or more exons of human NT5E selected from the group consisting of Exon 3, Exon 5, and Exon 9.