VCAM1 and chronic kidney disease: In this study, to better understand the mechanisms of AGEs-mediated acceleration of CVD in CKD patients, we employed an in vitro approach using human endothelial cells (i.e., HUVECs), U937 cells, and a coculture of HUVECs and U937 cells to investigate the effect of AGEs on the expression of MCP-1 and VCAM-1 and, consequently, on PKC-β activation (known to be involved in diverse cellular signaling pathways).