Fig. 4.

Podocyte autophagy inhibition restores the expression of A20 and blocks the RNF168 translocation into nuclei, contributing to the repair of DNA damage. Podocytes from MRL/MpJ mice were treated with pcDNA3-Atg5 plasmids, and podocytes from MRL/lpr mice were treated with Atg5-shRNA plasmids. a mRNA expression of RNF168 and A20 in the podocytes evaluated by RT-qPCR. b Protein expression of RNF168 and A20 in the podocytes evaluated by Western blot analysis. c Protein expression of γH2Ax, p53, and p21 in the podocytes evaluated by Western blot analysis. d DNA damage pattern and tail moment in the podocytes at 24 h after treatment detected by the neutral comet assay. e Immunofluorescence staining of γH2Ax positive nuclear expression in the podocytes at 24 h after treatment. Cell experiment was repeated 3 times independently. *p < 0.05 versus untreated podocytes from MRL/MpJ mice or MRL/lpr mice.