Inflammation in the kidney activated by mononuclear phagocytic lineage cells is one of the most significant biological mechanisms underlying DKD (25–27), and several inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-18, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and CRP, may lead to the pathogenesis of DKD (9, 28–32). Here, CRP is linked to diabetic kidney disease.