VEGFA and endothelial dysfunction: In addition, DKD is associated with endothelial dysfunction; activation of RAAS (renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system); increase in AGEs (advanced glycation end products); elevation of NADPH oxidase; upregulation of GLUT1; generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS); upregulation of growth factors, such as VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and TGF-β (transforming growth factor-β); activation of aldose reductase and the polyol pathways; mitochondrial dysfunction; downregulation of adiponectin; and nitric oxide (NO) loss, as reviewed elsewhere [7, 8].