Figure 6. Podocyte VEGF knockdown downregulates endothelial alpha_Vbeta3 integrin.

(A) Representative immunoblots show decreased alpha_Vbeta₃ integrin in VEGF knockdown kidney lysate, while beta₁ integrin and S⁷⁸⁵- beta₁ integrin (P-β1) remain at control levels. (B) Dual-immunostaining shows decreased alpha_Vbeta₃ integrin in VEGF knockdown glomeruli, with minimal co-localization with podocin, which is stable; negative controls shown. (C) Dual-immunostaining shows alpha_Vbeta₃ integrin and CD31 (endothelial marker) co-localization in control glomeruli, while in VEGF knockdown alpha_Vbeta₃ integrin decreases and CD31 does not. Note that immunoreactive alpha_Vbeta₃ signals appear higher than in (B) due to permeabilization required to detect CD31. (D) Representative immunoblots show alpha_Vbeta₃ integrin and beta₃ integrin levels in podocyte lysate unchanged upon VEGF knockdown. In (A) and (D) bar graphs show densitometric analysis, data are expressed as mean±SEM fold change as compared to controls, n≥3, * indicate P<0.05 vs. control. In (B) and (C) scale bars = 20 µm.