Furthermore, using the same approach, Nistala et al. (2014) have reported that DPP-4 inhibition with linagliptin improved proteinuria along with filtration barrier remodelling, circulating, and kidney tissue DPP-4 activity, increased active GLP-1 as well as SDF-1α, and improved oxidant markers and the podocyte-specific protein nephrin, suggesting that targeting DPP-4 may have a beneficial effect on the initial stages of obesity-related kidney disease [281]. This evidence concerns the gene CXCL12 and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.