Both cardiomyocytes and podocytes are terminal differentiated cells, however, podocyte is dependent on autophagy to sustain homeostasis in the cell while cardiomyocytes are not.4, 26 Previous reports have showed that apelin protected heart from injury by preventing autophagy of cardiomyocytes,27 therefore the effects of apelin on podocyte autophagy might be the key points that mediated the promoting effects of apelin on DN. Here, APLN is linked to liver dysplastic nodule.