Consistent with a key role of HspB4/αA-crystallin in the regulation of MGC activation in metabolic stress, WT HspB4/αA-crystallin overexpression significantly reduced the induction of IL-6 (61%), IL-1β (77%), and MCP-1 (63%) in the “diabetes-like” condition as compared to the respective empty vector. Here, IL1B is linked to diabetes mellitus.