NLRP3 and liver dysplastic nodule: 116), the inhibition of which could protect podocytes and reverse DN by blocking the transdermal differentiation of glomerular mesangium (Ref. 117). Wang et al (Ref. 118) treated podocytes with an mTOR activator/inhibitor and an NF-κB inhibitor, confirming that the mTOR/NLRP3/IL-1β axis is able to suppress podocyte damage in DN.