Figure 1. Loss of integrin α1β1 leads to exacerbated fibrosis following UUO.

(A) H&E and Trichrome staining of kidneys from WT and α1KO mice 7 days after UUO, showing more dilated tubules (asterisks), fibrosis (arrows), and collagen deposition (blue staining) in the injured α1KO mice. (B) Paraffin kidney sections from control and injured mice were stained with FITC-conjugated DBA (green) and collagen I (CI; red) antibodies to visualize CDs and degree of fibrosis, respectively. Increased deposition of collagen was evident in the injured α1KO mice. (C) Kidney lysates (20 μg/lane) from injured WT and α1KO mice (n = 3 and 5 shown, respectively) were analyzed by Western blot for levels of collagen I. (D) Collagen I and β-actin bands were quantified by densitometry analysis, and collagen I signal was expressed as the collagen I/β-actin ratio. Values are mean ± SEM of the indicated n. Scale bars: 100 μm (A); 40 μm (B).