Fig. 8: The mechanism diagram about arterial calcification mediated by crosstalk between ECs and VSMCs.

Under uremia/high phosphorous conditions, ECs released exosomal miR-670-3p, promoting the expression of Runx2 and subsequently ALP to accelerate VSMC calcification, which was further accomplished by downregulating IGF-1. Finally, the accumulation of VSMCs calcification resulted in calcified arteries.