Fig 2: Eosinophils release cationic proteins ECP and EDN in humans (or their orthologue mEar1 in mice) that use BMPR-1A and BMPR-1B as their receptors on vascular SMC. Their ligation of these receptors activates downstream Smad-1/5/8 and Runx2 that induce the expression of osteogenic proteins as a mechanism that promotes arterial wall calcification and atherogenesis. ECP, eosinophilic cationic protein; EDN, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin; mEar1, mouse eosinophil-associated-ribonuclease-1; BMPR, bone morphogenetic protein receptor.