It slows DKD progression by upregulating podocyte autophagy via the AMPK/mTOR pathway, evidenced by increased LC3II, Beclin-1, p-AMPK, Bcl-2, Atg7, and Atg5, and decreased p-mTOR, Bax, caspase-3, and p62 expression (Sheng et al., 2022). This evidence concerns the gene ATG7 and diabetic kidney disease.