Nanocrystals seed calcification in more ways than one Diane Proudfoot, Catherine M. Shanahan  Kidney International  Volume 79, Issue 4, Pages 379-382 (February 2011) DOI: 10.1038/ki.2010.455 Copyright © 2011 International Society of Nephrology Terms and Conditions

Figure 1 Model showing pathways activated in vascular smooth muscle cells in response to elevated phosphate. In this model, uptake of phosphate (P) via Pit-1 may act to drive vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotypic change via upregulation of the key transcription factor Runx2. These secretory VSMCs are able to adapt to the conditions, but loss of inhibitors and cell death will promote nanocrystal deposition. Once this occurs, uptake of nanocrystals initiates a new cycle of apoptosis, inflammation, and osteogenic gene expression, with bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) able to drive calcification in surrounding cells. MGP, matrix Gla protein. Kidney International 2011 79, 379-382DOI: (10.1038/ki.2010.455) Copyright © 2011 International Society of Nephrology Terms and Conditions