Fig. 3. Ruvbl1 is required for maintenance of kidney function and tubular architecture.

a Loss of Ruvbl1 in adult mice was achieved by using a tamoxifen-inducible Ksp:Cre mouse line. Induced loss of tubular Ruvbl1 (n = 4) resulted in significant body weight loss at 32 days (**p < 0.01) and at 35 days (****p < 0.0001) after induction, while control mice consistently gained weight (n = 5). Repeated measures two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni-corrected post hoc analyses (F(10,70) = 5.807, p < 0.0001). Mean body weight ± SEM. b, c Induced loss of tubular Ruvbl1 (iKO) resulted in increased serum creatinine (t(7) = 4.255, **p < 0.01) (b) and serum urea (t(7) = 4.232, **p < 0.01) (c) levels compared with controls (co). Mean values at sacrifice ± SEM. d–f Induced loss of tubular Ruvbl1 (iKO) resulted in a significantly increased kidney-to-body-weight ratio (t(7) = 2.905, *p < 0.05) (d), dilated tubules as shown in the histological PAS staining (e), and a significantly increased cystic index (t(7) = 4.255, **p < 0.01) (f) compared with controls. Scale bars, e: 1 mm (upper panel) and 500 µm (lower panel). g Induced loss of tubular Ruvbl1 (induced KO) resulted in significantly fewer and longer ciliated cells (magenta, arrowheads pointing to cilia) and an altered apico-basal localization of the collecting duct marker DBA (green) compared with controls. The graph on the right depicts the number of ciliated epithelial cells in black (t(7) = 8.435, ****p < 0.0001) and cilia length in red (t(143) = 11.87, ****p < 0.0001). Z-stacks: 1 µm. Scale bars: 10 µm