Figure 4.

Deletion of Smad3 in the recipient alleviates interstitial fibrosis in mouse chronic renal allograft rejection. Kidney allografts were transplanted into Smad3 WT or Smad3 KO recipient mice and examined 28 days later. An isograft group was used as a control. (A) Masson trichrome stain. (B) Immunohistochemistry stain for collagen I deposition. (C) Immunohistochemistry stain for F4/80⁺ macrophage infiltration. Graphs show quantification of the area of collagen staining using Masson trichrome and collagen I staining and the number of F4/80⁺ macrophages. Data are mean±SEM for groups of 6–8 mice. *P<0.05, ***P<0.001 versus isograft control; ^###P<0.001 versus Smad3 WT mice.