Tumor Necrosis Factor-Like Weak Inducer of Apoptosis Accelerates the Progression of Renal Fibrosis in Lupus Nephritis by Activating SMAD and p38 MAPK in TGF-β1 Signaling Pathway

Figure 4

Effects of LV-TWEAK-shRNA treatment on expressions of α-SMA and COL-1 proteins in kidneys of MRL/lpr mice. (a) Total lysates of kidneys were collected for Western blotting to measure COL-1 and α-SMA protein expressions. The representative experiment was presented (left). The ratios of COL-1/β-actin IOD and α-SMA/β-actin IOD were shown (right). (b) Distribution of α-SMA and COL-1 proteins in the kidney was tested by immunohistochemistry. The histologic scores of α-SMA and COL-1 proteins were shown at the bottom. Control: MRL/lpr mice treated with PBS; Control shRNA: MRL/lpr mice treated with LV-Control shRNA; TWEAK-shRNA: MRL/lpr mice treated with LV-TWEAK-shRNA; and MRL/MPJ: MRL/MPJ mice as normal control. The error bars represent the standard deviation. versus MRL/MPJ mice and versus control MRL/lpr mice. Scale bar: 100 μm.

(a)

(b)