Figure 3.

LPS–treated Podocin-Cre Klf15^flox/flox mice exhibit a lack of restoration of podocyte differentiation markers with DEX administration. Podocin-Cre Klf15^flox/flox and Podocin-Cre Klf15^+/+ mice were concurrently treated with either DEX or vehicle after LPS treatment. All mice were euthanized, glomeruli were isolated, and RNA were extracted for real-time PCR. (A) Nephrin and Synaptopodin mRNA expression levels are shown relative to untreated mice (n=6). *P<0.05; **P<0.01 (two–way ANOVA test with Tukey post-test). (B) Immunostaining for Synaptopodin (upper panel) and Nephrin (lower panel) was performed in all groups of mice. Representative images from four mice in each group are shown. The glomerular region was selected, and OD was measured and quantified as a relative fold change to untreated mice for Synaptopodin (upper right panel; n=6) and Nephrin (lower right panel; n=6). Magnification, ×20. *P<0.05; **P<0.01 (Kruskal–Wallis test with Dunn post-test).