IL6 and diabetes mellitus: Likewise, loss of periostin suppressed diabetes-triggered upregulations of the pro-hypertrophic genes (ANP, BNP, β-MHC), pro-fibrogenic genes (Col I, Col III, α-SMA), pro-inflammtory genes (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) and pro-oxidative genes (NOX2, NOX4, 12-LOX) at the mRNA levels (Fig. 2J, K).