LCN2 and Nephropathy: In this study, upregulated expression of KIM-1 and NGAL in rat kidneys was also detected in the presence of kidney damage from VCM, which could be attenuated by the antioxidants NAC and vitamin C, suggesting that an antioxidant effect is involved in the protective effect of NAC against VCM-induced renal injury by decreasing KIM-1 and NGAL expression.