Figure 2. GRN exacerbated lupus nephritis in lupus model.
BALB/c mice were administrated intramuscularly with 100 µg/mouse pGRN or pcDNA3.1 to overexpress GRN, intravenously injected with LV-shGRN or LV-shNC (2×108 molecules/mouse) to down-regulate GRN expression. And 72h later, mice were then injected subcutaneously with ALD-DNA (50 µg/mouse) for total 3 times in 4 weeks. (A) The dynamics of serum GRN levels were measured by ELISA every 2 weeks after initial injection. Data are means ± SD from 8 mice in each group. (B) Nephritic pathology was evaluated by H&E staining of renal tissues. Images (magnification×200) are representative of at least 8 mice in each group. (C) The kidney score was assessed using paraffin sections stained with H&E in (B). n = 8. (D) Urine protein levels of the mice were assessed by BCA Protein Assay Kit every 2 weeks. Data are means ± SD from 8 mice in each group. *, P<0.05.