Figure 5. Inhibiting miR-146a activity in the LPS-challenged kidney exacerbates apoptosis during I/R injury.

(a) Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells in kidney sections, photographed at original magnification x400, Bar = 50 um. The arrow indicates apoptotic tubular cell. (b) Mean value of TUNEL-positive cells in kidney sections. Knockdown of miR-146a increased kidney cell apoptosis. (n = 6 mice per group, ^#P < 0.001, vs. LPS + I/R + Scrambled control). (c) Representative micrographs showing immunohistochemical staining for cleaved caspase-3 among different groups as indicated. (original magnification x200 Bar = 50 um). (d) Analysis of cleaved caspase-3 accumulation in mouse kidney. (n = 6 mice per group, ^#P < 0.001, vs. LPS + I/R + Scrambled control). All data were expressed as mean ± SEM.