The serum protein α₂–Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein/fetuin-A is a systemically acting inhibitor of ectopic calcification
J. Clin. Invest. Cora Schäfer, et al. 112:357 doi:10.1172/JCI17202 [Go to this article.]

Figure 4
Calcification of Ahsg-deficient DBA/2 mice precedes kidney failure. (a) Plastic-embedded tissues of 1-month-old mice were sectioned and stained by von Kossa staining and counterstained with H&E. Calcification was detected in soft tissues including tongue, lung, myocardium, and kidney pelvis, but not yet in the kidney cortex. Note that even at 9 months of age, WT DBA/2 mice showed no calcification (see Figure 2b). (b) Radiological analysis detected progressive calcification of the kidneys and the skin. Note that the mice were alive at the time of radiography and therefore calcified heart and lung tissue was blurred due to movement. (c) Determination of serum phosphate, calcium, creatinine, and intact parathyroid hormone indicated that kidney failure in DBA/2-Ahsg–/– mice occurred after 4 months of age and therefore after the onset of soft tissue calcification (1 month, n = 4; 3–4 months, n = 6; over 6 months, n = 4). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.001.