Figure 5. Melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) deficiency potentiates T helper type 1 (Th1) immune response and diminishes renal regulatory T cells in nephrotoxic serum (NTS) nephritis.
(a) Kidney homogenates derived from NTS-injured vehicle-treated wild-type (WT) or e/e mice (MC1R-null) were processed for profiling of signature cytokines of Th immunity. aP<0.05 by unpaired t test (n=4). (b) Representative micrographs show immunofluorescence staining of kidney cryosections for forkhead box protein P3 (FoxP3), with glomeruli outlined by dashed circles. Arrowheads indicate the positive staining of FoxP3. (bar=50 μm). Absolute counting of FoxP3+ cells per microscopic field. aP<0.05 by unpaired t test (n=4). IFN, interferon; TNF, tumor necrosis factor. To optimize viewing of this image, please see the online version of this article at www.kidney-international.org.