Significant exacerbation of the interstitial accumulation of monocytes/macrophages in the OBK was observed in the VASH‐1+/− mice, consistent with our previous findings showing the anti‐inflammatory effects of VASH‐1 in models of diabetic nephropathy (Nasu et al. 2009; Saito et al. 2011). Here, VASH1 is linked to diabetic kidney disease.