NPPA and chronic kidney disease: Besides, we also found plasma from CAD or CKD patient with CAC increased mRNA levels of ANP, BNP and TGF-β in H9C2 cells as well as the apoptosis of H9C2 cells with a concentration dependent manner (Supplementary Figure 2), indirectly indicating the potential relationship of cardiomyocytes apoptosis and VC presence whatever in CAD or CKD patients.