VEGFA and Hyperglycemia: Our previous study demonstrated that PGC-1α regulates the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induced by hyperglycemia through the inhibition of mitochondrial ROS in cultured bovine retinal capillary endothelial cells [13]; however, little is known about its role in rat glomerular mesangial cells (RMCs) and kidney tissue.