Figure 8.

Schematic representation of the mechanisms of T1D-induced renal fibrosis three and six months after the onset of T1D and the effect of clopidogrel. T1D-increased expression of the TGF-β can induce renal fibrosis via Smad-dependent and independent pathways. In the present studies, we demonstrated that T1D increases TGF-β along with increases in phospho-ERK, phospho-AKT and phospho-p38 expressions at three months diabetes only, TGF-β and renal fibrosis (collagens and FN) at both three months (blue arrowa) and six-months (red arrows). Clopidogrel treatment of DM mice at three months and on, markedly reduced renal fibrosis levels by down-regulating FN and collagen at six months.