TGFB1 and diabetic kidney disease: AGE compounds increase the expression of TGFβ1 and VEGF growth factors and thereby increase the extracellular matrix, thicken glomerular basal membrane, reduce the elasticity of glomerular capillaries, destroy glomerular capillaries, increase glomerular filtration and permeability and protein excretion in the urine, and eventually lead to diabetic nephropathy [49, 50].