Western blotting, flow cytometry, qRT-PCR, ELISA, PAS staining and immunohistochemical staining were used for assessment of TAB1/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)/hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), iNOS, glycolysis, inflammation and the clinical and pathological manifestations of diabetic nephropathy. The gene discussed is NOS2; the disease is diabetic kidney disease.