Moreover, Western blot and qPCR results indicated that the levels of bach1, Snail, vimentin and α-SMA in the kidneys of the rats with DN were higher than those in the kidneys of the controls (Additional file 3: Fig. S2a–d, f), while the levels of CD31 were lower (Additional file 3: Fig. S2a, e). This evidence concerns the gene ACTA1 and liver dysplastic nodule.