miR-2355-3p knockdown reversed the inhibitory effect of lncRNA MALAT1 knockdown on col I, col IV, FN, LN, and IL6ST protein levels in HG-treated HK-2 cells. Cells were transfected with pcDNA-IL6ST (IL6ST) or pcDNA3.1 (vector) and then treated by NG or HG, respectively: (A) Western blotting was used to detect the STAT3 phosphorylation level, total STAT3, and NF-kB p65 protein levels in cells transfected with these two vectors. (B) Densitometric analysis of the blots (p-STAT3/STAT3 and NF-kB p65) normalized to GAPDH. **p < 0.01 vs. NG + vector group or HG + vector group, *p < 0.05 vs. HG + vector group. (C) col I, col IV, FN, LN, and IL6ST protein levels were measured by Western blotting in cells transfected with these two vectors. The histogram in (D) shows the densitometric analysis of the blots (col I, col IV, FN, LN, and IL6ST) normalized to GAPDH. **p < 0.01 vs. NG + vector group or HG + vector group. Cells were transfected with MALAT1 siRNA together with the NC inhibitor or the miR-2355-3p inhibitor and NC siRNA together with the NC inhibitor and then treated by NG or HG, respectively: (E and F) RT-qPCR was used to examine the expression of MALAT1 and miR-2355-3p in cells. (G) The expression of col I, col IV, FN, LN, and IL6ST in NG- or HG-treated cells was detected by Western blotting. The histogram in (H–L) presents the densitometric analysis of the blots (col I, col IV, FN, LN, and IL6ST) normalized to GAPDH. **p < 0.01 vs. NG + NC siRNA + NC inhibitor group, NG + MALAT1 siRNA + NC inhibitor group, or HG + NC siRNA + NC inhibitor group, *p < 0.05 vs. HG + MALAT1 siRNA + NC inhibitor group.