Metformin has been found to protect against inflammation and ECM accumulation in mesangial cells via the H19/miR-143-3p/TGF-β1 axis, suggesting that the H19/miR-143-3p/TGF-β1 axis could be a potential therapeutic target for the management of DN (Xu et al., 2020b). This evidence concerns the gene H19 and liver dysplastic nodule.