CXCR4 and kidney disorder: Rizzo's research has also revealed the close relationship between Ang II/AGTR1 and SDF-1α/CXCR4 in kidney diseases, indicating that increased Ang II could activate podocytes to release SDF-1α, which binds to its receptor CXCR4 located on parietal epithelial cells (PECs) [64].