Mechanisms of vascular calcification in uremia.
Vascular calcification and cardiovascular disease mortality are highly correlated with increased serum phosphate levels in end-stage renal disease patients. Mechanistic studies in cultured human smooth muscle cells (SMCs) indicate that increased phosphate levels induces both calcification and phenotypic transition through a pathway requiring a sodium-dependent phosphate cotransporter. Thus, in addition to contributing to increased calcium x phosphate product (Ca x P), hyperphosphatemia may have direct effects on SMCs that predispose these cells to calcium deposition in end-stage renal disease patients.
Giachelli
Cecilia M
CM
Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. ceci@u.washington.edu
D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D014511:Uremia / Q000150:complications*; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*