FGF23 and chronic kidney disease: The mechanisms by which phosphate induces the CAC in CKD may include promoting the osteochondrogenic phenotype change of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) [32, 33], phosphate-induced apoptosis of VSMC [34–36], the inhibition of osteoclast differentiation [37], and phosphorus-mediated elevation of FGF-23 [38, 39].