Since serum carnosinase, encoded by the CNDP1 gene, has been suggested to be implicated in susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy, the present study was carried out to assess if carnosine, the natural substrate of serum carnosinase, is able to mitigate iron mediated toxicity in endothelial and proximal tubular cells. The gene discussed is CNDP1; the disease is diabetic kidney disease.