Recent advances in renal phosphate transport

Phosphate (P-i) homeostasis is achieved by adjusting the intestinal absorption and the renal excretion. Renal proximal reabsorption of P-i is regulated by controlling the amount of NaPi-Ila cotransporters in the brush border membrane of proximal tubules. Therefore, the understanding of the molecular mechanisms that control the apical expression of NaPi-Ila is required to have a full picture of how phosphate balancing takes place. In this review we will summarize our present knowledge about the mechanisms involved in the regulation of the apical expression and membrane retrieval of this family of transporters.