NFKB1 and chronic kidney disease: On contrary, compared to the CKD group, the Ca2+ influx, inflammation response, cell apoptosis, and calcification in the shAIF-1+CKD group were significantly weakened in VSMCs, implying the ECs might transfer AIF-1-mediated inflammatory and calcification signaling to VSMCs through a paracrine form, thereby activating the NF-κB signaling pathway to induce vascular calcification.