REN and atherosclerosis: Uric acid also stimulates vascular smooth muscle cells through a specific organic anion transport pathway, platelet-derived growth factor-dependent proliferation, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and cyclooxygenase-2-dependent thromboxane synthesis, and through the activation of renin–angiotensin system (43, 44), all factors that participate to the development and progression of atherosclerosis.