TNF and renal fibrosis: Furthermore, over-expression of lncRNA Rpph1 related with DN-related factor galectin-3 (Gal-3) directly up-regulated inflammation factors like Mcp-1 and TNF-α and proliferation via Gal-3/Mek/Erk signaling pathway in MCs with low glucose, which may further lead to renal fibrosis [89].