Among these core genes, some have been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of DN, C3 (52, 53), ALB (54–56), EGF (57), EGR1 (58–61), COL1A2 (62), FN1 (63, 64), CD44 (65, 66), FOS (67), PLG (68, 69), and DUSP1 (70). Here, CD44 is linked to liver dysplastic nodule.