Wang et al. (91) found that O. japonicus polysaccharide (MDG-1) reduced glomerular mesangial dilatation and tubulointerstitial fibrosis and down-regulated the expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in diabetic nephropathy mice at 300 mg/kg, thus reducing extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition in renal tissue and achieving renal protective effect. Here, CCN2 is linked to diabetic kidney disease.