Initial studies by Abed et al. reported that heterogenous (Cx43+/−) mice, with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), exhibited reduced extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and decreased inflammation [27], whilst the Cx43-specific mimetic, GAP-26, was able to inhibit monocyte adhesion and blunted the expression of collagen I in the renin transgene (RenTG) mouse model of renin-dependent CKD [25]. The gene discussed is REN; the disease is chronic kidney disease.