Figure 6.

Various cellular stresses increased Kim-1 expression in mProx. (A) Removal of FCS resulted in increased Kim-1 expression at 6 h and with peak expression at 48 h (*P < 0.05 versus baseline). (B) Basal Kim-1 mRNA expression at 0 h in hypoxic condition was slightly elevated (considered due to 24-h preincubation with 0.5% FCS medium to induce cell-cycle arrest). Subsequent hypoxic condition downregulated Kim-1 expression at 6 h but then increased with a peak level at 48 h (*P < 0.05 versus baseline). (C) BSA increased Kim-1 mRNA expression in a dosage-dependent manner (*P < 0.05, †P < 0.05, ‡P < 0.05 versus 48-h control). (D) Kim-1 protein was diffusely expressed in the cytoplasm at 0 and 6 h in hypoxic condition. Small cytoplasmic vesicles of Kim-1 protein gradually increased in number and size after 6 h, forming larger granules at 48 h.