Firstly, the results showed that mRNA expression of AP1, BACH1, CDC5, FAC1, FOXJ2, IRF1, POU3F2, SOX5, SOX9 and TGIF1 in renal tubulointerstitium reversely correlated with GFR in DN patients (Fig. 5), suggesting that those transcription factor genes may contribute to the progression of DN. This evidence concerns the gene FOXJ2 and liver dysplastic nodule.