Moreover, immunofluorescence assays showed that compared with DM and CON subjects, DN patients experienced a decrease in the expression of podocyte marker proteins, such as podocin and synaptopodin (SYNPO), and an increase in podocyte injury factor claudin-1 and the inflammatory cytokine IL-17 (Fig. 1a, b). Here, CLDN1 is linked to liver dysplastic nodule.