Chronic micro‐inflammation is the common pathway for promoting the development and progression of DN, and anti‐inflammatory therapy would exert protective effects on DN.27, 28 We found that HG could induce the activation of mesangial and tubular cells, which lead to expression of adhesion molecules (ICAM‐1), pro‐inflammatory cytokines (TNF‐α and IL‐6) and chemo‐attractant cytokines (MCP‐1). The gene discussed is CCL2; the disease is liver dysplastic nodule.