'Shedding' light on mechanisms of hyperphosphatemic vascular dysfunction

Cardiovascular disease is prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD) populations. Vascular dysfunction characterized by endothelial-cell damage, inflammation, and impaired angiogenesis is described in CKD, and hyperphosphatemia has been associated with vascular disease in CKD and general populations. We discuss the findings of elegant studies by Di Marco et al., linking hyperphosphatemia to downregulation of annexin II, an important protein implicated in fibrinolysis, cell adhesion, signal transduction, and angiogenesis. Kidney International (2013) 83, 187-189. doi:10.1038/ki.2012.416