In support of this inefficient response, Vegfa mRNA and protein levels were significantly reduced starting in the first-month and remained so on during follow-up (Fig. 6B–D), despite Hif1a mRNA and protein levels being reestablished by the third-month, suggesting that an independent mechanism maintains Vegfa gene expression downregulation and could be related with the vascular rarefaction characteristic of the AKI to CKD transition29–31. The gene discussed is HIF1A; the disease is acute kidney injury.