TNF and acute kidney injury: These inflammatory cytokines have previously been associated with DKD in human and mouse models.33,41,43 High urinary levels of MIF have been observed in individuals with acute kidney injury (AKI)44 and type 1 diabetes,45 and several clinical studies have reported elevated levels of urinary cytokines, including TNF-alpha,24 in patients with proximal tubular damage damage46 or with diabetes.47 Kidney proximal tubules, via the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), are responsible for glucose reabsorption.