CXCL12 and chronic kidney disease: In the present study we observed that i) CXCR4 is expressed on the surface of endothelial cells in both the glomerular and peritubular compartments, ii) chronic CXCR4 blockade accelerates capillary loss in rats with CKD and iii) local SDF-1 delivery induces glomerular eNOS activation in a CXCR4-dependent manner.