TGFB1 and diabetic kidney disease: For an instance, treatment with Pirfenidone, a small molecule that blocks TGF-β1 promoter, can prevent the decline of eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) in patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) or diabetic nephropathy (Cho et al., 2007; Sharma et al., 2011).