While our study and that of the KPMP focused on diseases not typically considered to be immune-mediated, such as obstructive, diabetic and hypertensive nephropathy, the presence of ICAM1+ tubular cells in glomerulonephritis41 and lupus nephritis42, suggests that it may represent a common mechanism driving tubulointerstitial fibrosis regardless of aetiology. Here, ICAM1 is linked to hypertensive nephropathy.