['The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of a recombinant vaccine encoding TGF-β1 in OLETF rats with diabetic nephropathy (DN).', 'OLETF rats were treated with vehicle or TGF-β1 vaccine. LETO rats were used as normal controls. At 42 weeks after immunization with vaccine, samples from blood, urine and kidney were collected for biochemical, histologic, immunohistochemical and molecular analyses.', 'OLETF rats treated with the vaccine reduced blood glucose levels, improved renal pathological changes, and inhibited overexpression of TGF-β1 and p-Smad3, as well as MCP-1, TNF-α and IL-1β.'] Does a recombinant TGF-β1 vaccine ameliorate diabetic nephropathy in OLETF rats?