ANGPT1 and endothelial dysfunction: We found evidence for increased EC stress and endothelial dysfunction in the kidneys of Orientia-infected, IL-33-injected mice, including a significantly reduced Ang1 expression and a near 2-fold increase in Ang2/Ang1 ratio (Fig 7A), which was accompanied with a significantly reduced eNOS/ET-1 ratio (Fig 7B).