Induction of HO-1 attenuated the elevation in albuminuria and creatinine excretion in diabetic SHR and decreased renal fibrosis and extracellular matrix deposition in the kidney of diabetic SHR as evidence by decreased kidney TGF-β and collagen and decreased collagen excretion in diabetic SHR. Here, TGFB1 is linked to renal fibrosis.