In a type 1 diabetes model, the RNA-binding protein HuR rapidly upregulated NAPDH oxidase 4 (NOX4) expression levels by binding to AU-rich elements (Ares) in the NOX4 mRNA 3′UTR, which induced mesangial cell (MC) fibrotic injury and kidney damage, and a reno-protective role was shown by suppressing HuR expression in type 1 diabetic mouse models (Shi et al., 2020). The gene discussed is ELAVL1; the disease is type 1 diabetes mellitus.