VEGFA and diabetes mellitus: Furthermore, inhibition of VEGF binding with its receptor or impairment of VEGF receptor-mediated downstream signaling by sFlt-1 (soluble VEGF receptor-1) in podocytes has effectively improved diabetes-induced albuminuria, mesangial expansion, GBM thickening, podocyte foot process fusion, and TGF-β expression in diabetic mice [243].