Figure 5.

TLR4 deficiency reduces renal fibrosis but does not affect myofibroblast accumulation after UUO. (A and B) Quantitative analysis of total collagen deposition (A) and myofibroblast accumulation (B) in obstructed and contralateral kidneys of WT (□) and TLR4−/− (■) mice after UUO. (A) The amount of total collagen deposition progressively increases after UUO and is significantly lower in the TLR4−/− mice 7 and 14 days after UUO. (B) No difference is found in the accumulation of α-SMA–positive myofibroblasts between WT and TLR4−/− mice. The percentage of picrosirius red– and α-SMA–positive staining is quantified by digital analysis. Representative pictures of WT and TLR4−/− mice are of 14 days after UUO (A) or 7 days after UUO (B). Data are means ± SEM of seven to eight mice per group. Contral., contralateral kidneys of mice subjected to 14 days of UUO. *P < 0.05.