Fetuin-mineral complex: a new potential biomarker for vascular calcification?
Vascular calcification is prevalent in dialysis patients and is associated with a high burden of cardiovascular disease. Fetuin-A is a potent inhibitor of vascular calcification, but the precise mechanism by which it mediates vascular calcification in uremia is unclear. Matsui and colleagues demonstrate that circulating fetuin-A forms fetuin-mineral complex in the serum of uremic rats and thereby inhibits vascular calcification. This suggests that fetuin-mineral complex may reflect extraosseous calcification stress, opening new perspectives on vascular calcification in uremia.
Division of Nephrology and Kidney Center, Kobe University School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Hirotaka
H
Komaba
Masafumi
M
Fukagawa
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008903:Minerals / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D014511:Uremia / Q000473:pathology; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D008903:Minerals; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins