title: Nanocrystals seed calcification in more ways than one.
abstract: Although much progress has been made in the past five years in understanding the mechanisms leading to accelerated vascular calcification in patients with chronic kidney disease, it remains unclear how an environment high in phosphate can impinge so significantly on the calcification process. The study by Sage et al. highlights an important and novel role for calcium phosphate nanocrystals, produced in a high-phosphate environment, in rapidly driving calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells via enhanced production of bone morphogenetic protein-2.
authors.affiliation: BHF Centre of Research Excellence, Cardiovascular Division, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Proudfoot
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Shanahan
mesh_terms: D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002130:Calcium Phosphates; C020243:calcium phosphate