Decreases total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels; inhibits the phosphorylation of p65/NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase; activates transcription factor 3 protein expression; and decreases Bax, cytochrome c, caspase-9 and caspase-3 expression. It may be beneficial in the treatment of diabetes. The gene discussed is WNK2; the disease is diabetes mellitus.