FGF2 and HIV-associated nephropathy: In addition, the mRNA expression levels of two heparin-binding cytokines (FGF-2 and VEGF-A) that are involved in the pathogenesis of HIVAN in HIV-Tg26 mice and children living with HIV (Ray et al., 1994; Korgaonkar et al., 2008; Soler-García et al., 2009), were elevated in the kidneys of 7-day-old HIV-Tg26 mice (Fig. 2B,C).