Figure 3.

Treatment with β2GPI and reduced β2GPI decreased the excessive accumulation of ECM proteins in STZ-induced diabeti mce. A. Immunohistochemical staining of collagen IV in the above groups. Increased expression of collagen IV-positive areas (dark brown) was observed after STZ induction in the DM group and was reduced with β2GPI and reduced β2GPI as the treatment increasing. Original magnification: ×400. Scale bar = 50 μm for all micrographs. NC: normal control; DM: diabetic model control; β2GPI: 20 μg β2GPI; reduced β2GPI: 20 μg reducedβ2GPI. B and C. Quantification of collagen IV expression in the kidneys was performed using quantitative real-time RT-PCR and western blot. The mRNA and protein expression of collagen IV in kidneys were significantly increased after STZ induction in the DM group and were reduced with β2GPI, evidently with reduced β2GPI for 6 weeks. Data are expressed as the mean ± S.E.M. (n=8 for each group). *P<0.05 vs. NC roup, #P<0.05 vs. DM group. N: normal control; DM: diabetic model control; β2GPI: 20 μg β2GPI; reduced β2GPI: 20 μg reduced β2GPI.