COL18A1 and chronic kidney disease: Furthermore, circulating proteins portrayed by increased fragments in CRS included AHSG (a protein which is associated with vascular calcification, cardiovascular mortality and kidney dysfunction38), APOA1 (a protein which is associated with HF and kidney dysfunction27), B2M (a protein which is associated with cardio-renal remodeling11 and inflammation39), COL18A1 (endostatin, generated from COL18A1, is associated with the development of cardiovascular events in CKD patients40), MGP and thymosin beta-4 (TMSB4X, a protein which is associated with renal fibrosis41).