FIGURE 4.

p53 mediates HG-induced podocyte apoptosis. Mouse podocytes were transfected with scrambled siRNA (nontargeting; Scr) or with siRNA for p53 (sip53) in NG or HG. A, relative mRNA amount of p53. B, representative Western blot of p53, phospho-Ser⁴⁶ p53, and β-actin. C, relative mRNA amount of PUMA in podocytes transfected with scrambled siRNA in NG or HG or transfected with p53 siRNA and treated with HG. D, percent annexin V-positive cells 48 h after transfection with scrambled or p53 siRNA in HG. E and F, histograms of caspase-3 activity and ELISA for cellular DNA fragmentation, respectively. All values are the mean ± S.E. from four independent experiments. *, p < 0.05 versus the control + Scr; #, p < 0.05 versus HG + Scr.