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. This evidence concerns the gene VEGFA and chronic kidney disease.