It is hypothesized that activated ROCK signaling contributes to the infiltration of macrophages into the glomeruli, the induction of fibrotic mediators (e.g., connective tissue growth factor, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1), and the production of reactive oxygen species in the diabetic kidney, which eventually leads to glomerular sclerosis (Kikuchi et al., 2007; Komers, 2011). Here, SERPINE1 is linked to glomerulosclerosis.