Vasoconstriction-inhibiting factor: an endogenous inhibitor of vascular calcification as a calcimimetic of calcium-sensing receptor.

Aims: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) show a high risk of cardiovascular diseases, predominantly caused by accelerated vascular calcification. Vascular calcification is a highly regulated process with no current treatment. The vasoconstriction-inhibiting factor (VIF) peptide was recently discovered with vasoregulatory properties, but no information regarding calcification has been described.