In rats with UA‐induced AKI, we found that renal function, evaluated by serum creatinine (SCr), returned to baseline levels and the dedifferentiated phenotype in the PT also returned to a differentiated phenotype (i.e., re‐expression of megalin and loss of dedifferentiation markers such as vimentin and paired box gene‐2 [Pax‐2]) by day 14 after insult, when cytoresistance to rechallenge injury was observed. Here, VIM is linked to acute kidney injury.