The pathogenesis of albuminuria in diabetic nethropathy has been linked to podocyte foot process effacement (FPE), reduced nephrin-positive areas in glomeruli, mesangial expansion, glomerular basement membrane thickening, and increased area of TGF-β1 staining in glomeruli, which result in podocyte apoptosis, tubulointerstitial collagen accumulation, glomerular fibrosis and glomerulosclerosis. This evidence concerns the gene NPHS1 and glomerulosclerosis.