Levels of parathyroid hormone (A), serum calcium (B) and vitamin D (C) are shown in NC patients and controls at the indicated time points.

<p>Patients with calcification are depicted in red. Data are shown as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM).</p

Drug treatment and allograft status of patients and controls at biopsy time points.

<p>Values represent percentages.</p>*<p>p<0.05;</p>+<p>p = 0.056.</p>§<p>ARB’s: angiotensin receptor blockers; ACE-I’s: Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors,</p>$<p>any grade of hydronephrosis,</p>&<p>any cGrade>0 according to the BANFF classification.</p

Urinary concentrations of OPN are shown in NC patients and control transplant patients without signs of calcification at the indicated time points.

<p>Patients with calcification are depicted in red.</p

Serum concentrations of Fetuin A (A) as well as MGP (B) are shown in NC patients (n = 31) in comparison to control transplant patients without signs of calcification (n = 27) at the indicated time points.

<p>Patients with calcification are depicted in red.</p

Demographics and transplant data of patients with and without (controls) calcification.

<p>Continuous data are given as mean±SD unless otherwise stated;</p>*<p>p = 0.011.</p

Representative images of Fetuin A (A), MGP (B) and OPN (C) expression are shown (red circle).

<p>The expression of the antigens is specifically localized in the vicinity of calcified plaques in patients with calcification. A representative control image is shown for Osteopontin (D). Original magnification: (Fetuin a and MGP x40; OPN x40 and x60).</p

Urinary mineral ions in patients and controls at biopsy time points.

<p>Urinary mineral ions in patients and controls at biopsy time points.</p

Urinary phosphate levels in NC patients in comparison to control transplant patients without signs of calcification at the indicated time points are shown.

<p>Patients with calcification are depicted in red.</p

Levels of circulating miR-21 and -210 in different sample types with the F60S dialysate filter.

<p>Ten independent dialysis sessions in eight different patients were analyzed for the F60S filter system. MiR-21 and miR-210 levels are not significantly different between pre-dialyser and corresponding post-dialyser blood lines (<u>miR-21:</u> p = 0.35; <u>miR-210:</u> p = 0.91). Also the difference between spent dialysate and ultrafiltrate is not of statistical significance (<u>miR-21:</u> p = 0.80; <u>miR-210:</u> p = 0.74). However, averaged values of blood side versus spent dialysate reached high statistical significance for both microRNAs with p-values of <0.0001. Data are represented as mean and standard error of the mean.</p

Comparison of influence of two different filter properties on circulating microRNA levels.

<p>Six patients received at least one dialysis session with each of the two filter systems AV 1000 S and EMiC 2. Circulating levels of miR-21 and -210 were not differently altered by the two different dialyser properties. (<u>miR-21:</u> AV1000S pre-dialyser vs. EMiC 2 predialyser p = 0.59, post-dialyser p = 0.70, dialysate p = 0.94, ultrafiltrate p = 0.39; <u>miR-210:</u> pre-dialyser p = 0.02, post-dialyser p = 0.82, dialysate p = 0.59, ultrafiltrate p = 0.31) Only pre-dialyser line showed a significant alteration, which is not of relevance for our main conclusion. Data are represented as mean and standard error of the mean.</p