FIGURE 6.

Schematic representation of the molecular mechanism for aldosterone (Aldo)‐enhanced vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) calcification. In the presence of high phosphate (Pi), Aldo binds to mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) in cytoplasm and inhibits adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation, which then retards formation of VSMC autophagosome, in turn promotes phenotypic switch of VSMCs from the contractile to the osteogenic form, leading to enhanced VSMC calcification