TNF and diabetes mellitus: TaqMan quantitative PCR analysis revealed that mRNA expression of TGF-β, collagen type I, collagen type III, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 was markedly enhanced in the DM group when compared to the control group (Figures 3B–G), and treatment with empagliflozin significantly reduced the mRNA expression of collagen type I, collagen type III, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6.