Elevated amounts of the Notch intracellular domain (NICD) in a DN environment can translocate into the nucleus and upregulate the expressions of the hairy and enhancer of split (Hes) transcription factors and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which can lead to podocyte apoptosis in the glomerulus17. The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is liver dysplastic nodule.