CXCL12 and glomerulosclerosis: The inhibition of CXCL12 in mice with diabetic nephropathy alleviated glomerulosclerosis, prevented proteinuria, and podocyte loss [56], but in another study, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibition suppressed the progression of diabetic nephropathy by upregulating CXCL12, indicating a protective effect of CXCL12 on podocytes and kidneys [57].