Although the activation of the VEGF/VEGFR signaling pathway in the early stage of DN leads to the formation of new blood vessels and glomerular injury, excessive loss of podocytes in the late stage leads to the weakening of VEGF signaling, which further leads to vascular thinning and renal fibrosis, aggravating the development of DN (26). The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is renal fibrosis.