Taking into account the role of UCP2 in decreasing oxidative stress, and that UCP2 gene polymorphisms have been associated with DKD and other diabetic complications (Rudofsky et al., 2006; Tiwari et al., 2009; Crispim et al., 2010; Souza et al., 2011; de Souza et al., 2015), dysregulation of miR-15a-5p and miR-30e-5p might also be involved in DKD pathogenesis. The gene discussed is UCP2; the disease is diabetic kidney disease.