EGF and acute kidney injury: It signals in an autocrine/paracrine way through the EGF receptor, which is involved in cell proliferation, metabolism, differentiation, and survival.38 The EGF was found to protect against high glucose-induced podocyte injury by promoting podocyte proliferation and inhibiting podocyte apoptosis.39 Exogenous EGF accelerates the regeneration of kidney tubules and the recovery of kidney function in animal models of acute kidney injury.40 As such, EGF might play a protective role in the reduction of proteinuria by repairing podocytes and tubular cells.