Summary
Elevated serum phosphate is a risk factor for vascular calcification and cardiovascular
events in kidney disease as well as in the general population. Elevated phosphate
levels drive vascular calcification, in part, by regulating vascular smooth muscle
cell (VSMC) gene expression, function, and fate. The type III sodium-dependent phosphate
co-transporter, PiT-1, is necessary for phosphate-induced VSMC osteochondrogenic phenotype
change and calcification, and has recently been shown to have unexpected functions
in cell proliferation and embryonic development.
Keywords
Phosphate - vascular calcification - PiT-1 - kidney disease