TGFB1 and Hyperglycemia: TGF-β1, a broad-spectrum cytokine [16, 17], which could be induced by hyperglycemia, advanced glycation end-products, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and protein kinase C (PKC) pathway [18], plays a crucial role in the progression of glomerular enlargement and the excess deposition of ECM in DKD [19, 20].