Figure 3.

Progression of vascular calcification. This process highlights the importance of carboxylated MGP in its ability to adopt its properties once vitamin K and GGCX do so. However, once the MGP protein becomes phosphorylated, it then has specific physiological functions, such as inducing phagocytes to remove apoptotic bodies, chelating to calcium and phosphorus ions and stimulating the production of osteocalcin, which all prevent the calcification of vessels. Bone Mineral protein (BMP), Gla-rich protein (GRP), Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) [17].