Similarly, mouse models of hyperlipidemia-induced full-blown atherosclerosis (e.g., ApoE-/- or LDLR-/- mice on a high-fat diet) were not used here, since the lipid profiles in these animals is expected to be different from late-stage CKD patients, who in addition often develop atherosclerosis without hyperlipidemia, as opposed to the general population and in line with the lack of statin protection in these patients. Here, LDLR is linked to atherosclerosis.