Figure 7.

qRT‐PCR and Western blot. Analysis on the upper ureter for fibrosis‐associated gene and protein expression in each group. (A) Relative mRNA expression of Col I, Col III, Fib, TGF‐β1 and Smad3 at 4 wk after injection. Representative Western blots (B) and corresponding densitometry and statistical analysis (C) showing Col I, Col III, Fib, TGF‐β1 and p‐Smad3 protein expression at 4 wk after injection in each group. β‐actin served as the loading control. All results were expressed as means ± standard deviation of the 3 separate experiments. ^# P < .05 vs the Sham group, ^& P < .01 vs the Sham group, *P < .05 vs the US group, ^§ P < .01 vs the US group. Note both the mRNA and protein levels of Col I, Fib and TGF‐β1 were markedly increased in the US rat, which were reduced by the injection of MSCs or MSC‐EVs