Additionally, the expression of inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-8, intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1, and MCP-1 mRNA was significantly elevated, an effect that could be attenuated by the HIF-1 inhibitor KC7F2, indicating that HIF-1 exacerbates renal damage by promoting the expression of inflammatory factors during DKD (Zhao et al., 2021). Here, IL6 is linked to diabetic kidney disease.