Diabetic kidney disease (DKD), defined as chronic kidney disease (CKD) attributed to diabetes mellitus (DM), is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, mortality, as well as health care costs in DM patients [1]. Early screening and timely intervention for DKD are critical to delay its progression. Osteopontin (OPN) is a profibrotic adhesion phosphoprotein that participates in cell chemotaxis, adhesion, migration, and proliferation, as well as extracellular matrix hyperplasia [2], and N-terminal OPN (ntOPN) has a stronger profibrotic adhesion effect than full-length OPN and plays an important role in mediating inflammation [3].
