In the kidney, glomerular endothelial cells engage in crosstalk with podocytes and mesangial cells via various ligands, including VEGF and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) [8,12], and glomerular endothelial dysfunction has been implicated in development and progression of DKD [3,7]. This evidence concerns the gene TGFB1 and diabetic kidney disease.