PRKCI and renal fibrosis: This study provides evidence suggesting that EchA protects against DN in a db/db mouse model by attenuating renal fibrosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress mediated by PKCι inhibition, which subsequently suppresses p38 MAPK, the NO4 signaling pathway, and AMPKα activation, which enhances the PGC1α/NRF2/HO-1 pathway (Figure 6).