High-phosphate causes endothelial extracellular matrix calcification by inducing endothelial cell mesenchymal transition and osteoblastic differentiation

The significance of this study is the demonstration that, in chronic kidney disease (CKD), intima is not a passive actor but undergoes deep changes up to osteoblastic-like differentiation and calcification. Considering these new findings, the vessel probably needs to be considered as a unique organ in the pathogenesis of vascular calcification (VC). This new point of view may help in finding strategies and implementing targeted therapies to delay or block the development of VC in CKD.