The study by Liu et al. demonstrated that high glucose significantly promotes TGF-β1 secretion in HK-2 renal tubular cells, triggering ferroptosis via the TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway, while sleeve gastrectomy alleviates the symptoms and progression of diabetic kidney disease by downregulating this pathway [135]. The gene discussed is TGFB1; the disease is diabetic kidney disease.