Figure 5. Klotho is essential for Rhein’s anti-renal fibrotic effects in kidney cells.

(A) HK2 cells were transfected with a control (containing scrambled sequences) or a Klotho specific shRNA plasmid respectively, and then treated with TGFβ (5 ng/ml) and/or Rhein (10 μg/ml) for 48 h, followed by Western blot assay for the expression of Klotho, α-SMA, E-cadherin, β-catenin and phosphorylated Smad3. (B) Quantifications for (A). The statistics were based on at least three independent experiments. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 versus the control in control plasmid-transfected cells; ^#p < 0.05, ^##p < 0.01 versus TGFβ treatment; ^△p < 0.05, ^△△p < 0.01 versus the control in shRNA-Klotho-transfected cells.