This novel finding, together with the roles of FGF23 contributing to the decrease of SDF-1-induced senescence of EPCs and suppression of SDF-1/CXCR4 via inhibition of a non-canonical Erk/RSK/NF-κB phosphorylation, may shed more insight for developing effective approaches to rescue AKI. Here, CXCL12 is linked to acute kidney injury.