Consistent with the quantitative RT-PCR analysis, immunohistochemical staining and histomorphometric analysis showed that miR-29a transgenic mice following STZ treatment expressed significantly lower interleukin-1β (IL-1β) (Figure 3) and type 4 collagen (Figure 4) in the glomerular mesangium than wild-type mice after induction of diabetes. This evidence concerns the gene IL1B and diabetes mellitus.