TGFB1 and liver dysplastic nodule: Several studies have shown that, at the beginning of DN, there is an increase in the weight of kidneys, as well as the area of proximal tubule cells; this structural alteration is known as renal hypertrophy and is associated with the overexpression of TGF-β and CTGF, especially in cells of the proximal convoluted tubules and mesangial cells [17,18].