In CKD patients, immunofluorescence staining revealed that Notch1 and α-SMA were co-expressed in the tubules and interstitium of the kidney during fibrosis (Fig. 1j), accompanied by enhanced expression of NICD, indicating that proliferation-associated Notch1 signalling was activated in the TECs and fibroblasts of kidney tissues. The gene discussed is ACTA1; the disease is chronic kidney disease.