Interestingly, separate from its chemotactic function, a direct role for CXCL13 in the pathogenesis of LN was suggested by Worthmann et al., who found that exposing cultured podocytes to CXCL13 increased secretion of CXCL12, MIF, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 (43). This evidence concerns the gene CXCL12 and lobular neoplasia.