Figure 8.

Localization of gelatinase activity in Smad3 WT (I, II), Smad3 KO (III, IV) non‐TGF‐β1 mice (I, III) and TGF‐β1 mice (II, IV). (A) The gelatinase activity (green) is highest intracellular of Smad3 KO TGF‐β1 mice versus the other three tested groups. (B and C) Score of gelatinase activity in the TBM and intracellular (in the tubular cells), respectively (n = 4–5/group) (*P = 0.008 vs. Smad3 WT TGF‐β1, ^#P < 0.015 vs. Smad3 WT TGF‐β1 mice, and ^†P = 0.002 vs. Smad3 KO non‐TGF‐β1 mice). (D) Localization of gelatinase activity (green) in the glomerulus. (E) A nonsignificant higher amount of activity are detected in the glomeruli of Smad3 WT versus Smad3 KO mice (n = 5–6/group). TBM, tubular basement membrane.