Uremia modulates the phenotype of aortic smooth muscle cells
Background and aims Chronic kidney disease leads to uremia and markedly accelerates atherosclerosis. Phenotypic modulation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in the arterial media plays a key role in accelerating atherogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether uremia per se modulates the phenotype of aortic SMCs in vivo. Methods Moderate uremia was induced by 5/6 nephrectomy in apolipop