After CKD progression, kidney lymphatics were expanded by transgenic induction of kidney-specific overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor-D in aristolochic acid (AA) nephropathy and cisplatin injury aggravated with chronic high phosphate diet (CisPi) models or by infusion of kidney-targeting nanoparticles loaded with the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 specific ligand vascular endothelial growth factor-C C156S in a progressive proteinuria (POD) model. The gene discussed is VEGFC; the disease is chronic kidney disease.