Regulation of renal phosphate handling: recent findings

Our knowledge of renal phosphate handling and its regulation has expanded in the past 2 years because of the molecular identification of sodium-phosphate cotransport systems. New tools (molecular probes and antibodies) have allowed dissection out of some of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the adaptation of phosphate transport to dietary content, the phosphaturic effect of parathyroid hormone or glucocorticoids and the renal phosphate leak in hypophosphataemic rickets.