TGFB1 and diabetes mellitus: TGF-β, a pro-sclerotic growth factor with a relevant role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy, had significantly higher expression in the DM groups compared to the control group, both in the glomeruli (4.6%±0.3% vs. 0.7%±0.1%; Table 2, Fig. 3, panels E–H, p<0.0001) and the interstitial area (0.67%±0.09% vs. 0.02%±0.06%; Table 2, Fig. 3, panels I–M, p<0.0001).