AKT2 and type 1 diabetes mellitus: To demonstrate that the increase in Akt2 phosphorylation after FF-treatment mediates FF prevention of T1D-induced renal pathogenesis, we established an in vitro assay using human renal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells transfected with Akt2-specific siRNA (Akt2-siRNA) for 48 h to inhibit Akt2 expression, as well as with a control siRNA (Con-siRNA).