• Inhibition of AGE/RAGE axis restores the disturbed autophagy to alleviate glomerular endothelial permeability in DN (59).• Autophagy deficiency accompanying oxidative stress and apoptosis in high glucose-cultured glomerular endothelial cells is associated with CaMKKβ-LKB1-AMPK pathway (60).• Promotion of autophagy by inhibiting miR-34a/Atg4b pathway in glomerular endothelial cells relieves diabetic kidney damage (61). This evidence concerns the gene STK11 and liver dysplastic nodule.