VASH1 and diabetic kidney disease: We previously reported the therapeutic effects of the adenoviral transfer of VASH‐1 (AdhVASH‐1) in mouse diabetic nephropathy models, and showed direct effects of VASH‐1 on glomerular mesangial, endothelial cells as well as podocytes (Nasu et al. 2009; Saito et al. 2011).