Figure 4. Knockdown of KLF4 in podocytes exacerbates proteinuria in ADM nephropathy.

(A) Experimental protocol. Podocyte-specific Klf4 KO mice (podocin-Cre Klf4^flox/flox) and control littermates (Klf4^flox/flox) were treated with or without ADM (n = 5–6 per time point). (B) Real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis of nephrin, KLF4, and KLF15 expression in kidney cortex of KOs and controls. (C) Representative photomicrographs of immunofluorescence staining of KLF4 and nephrin in KOs or controls with or without ADM treatment at 2 weeks after ADM injection. Scale bar: 25 μm. (D) Time course of changes in albuminuria in Klf4 KOs and controls without (–) or with (+) ADM treatment. (E) Real-time RT-PCR analysis of Klf15 expression in kidney cortex of KOs and controls. ADM (+): 2 weeks after ADM injection. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 vs. controls; ^#P < 0.05, ^##P < 0.01 vs. the respective groups.