The beneficial effects of IGF-1 treatment in AKI may be due to the following: (1) its stimulatory effect on GFR via increased renal blood flow (vide supra), which prevents the obstruction of tubules by cellular debris and thereby limiting the extent of kidney injury; (2) its positive anabolic effects, including reduced protein breakdown; (3) its stimulatory effect on DNA synthesis in regenerating renal tubular cells; and (4) a reduced apoptosis rate after reperfusion [2]. The gene discussed is IGF1; the disease is acute kidney injury.