In the present study, DcR2-positive senescent RTECs exhibited apoptotic resistance characterized by increased expression of antiapoptotic proteins (FLIP and Bcl2) and decreased expression of proapoptotic proteins (caspase 3, caspase 8, and TUNEL) in both patients with DN and mice with STZ-induced DN, consistent with our previous findings [20]. Here, CASP3 is linked to liver dysplastic nodule.