CCL2 and renal fibrosis: We found increased systemic inflammatory markers including: (1) MCP-1, an important chemokine secreted by the macrophages and key inflammatory mediator of renal fibrosis, (2) PAI-1, a known mediator of renal fibrosis in obesity, and (3) TGF-β1 which is an important regulator of inflammation and fibrosis in the kidney.