HIF1A and liver dysplastic nodule: In this study, we report the following major findings: (1) miR-122-5p is significantly induced in renal tubular cells in STZ induced DN mouse models; (2) functionally, miR-122-5p attenuates tubular injury and cell apoptosis, indicating that miR-122-5p induction in DN is an adaptive or protective mechanism; (3) mechanistically, miR-122-5p directly targets and inhibits FIH-1 expression to enhance the HIF-1α activity, finally ameliorating tubular injury in DN.