The results of qRT-PCR and western blotting demonstrated alterations in proteins associated with the VDR/mTOR/p70s6k/4E-BP1 pathway, confirming that DDIT4 enhances the pathological damage of DKD by participating in VDR/mTOR/p70s6k/4E-BP1 signal pathway, similar to the effect of 1.25(OH)2D3 on mesangial cells. Here, VDR is linked to diabetic kidney disease.