Fig. 2.

Induction of sonic hedgehog (Shh) is associated with lymphangiogenesis in fibrotic kidney. A: Western blot analyses showing a time-dependent induction of Shh protein in the obstructed kidneys after unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Kidney tissue lysates from sham or UUO mice were immunoblotted with antibodies against Shh and α-tubulin. N-Shh (19 kDa) is shown. B–D: Western blot analyses showing the concomitant induction of both Shh and VEGF receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) proteins in the obstructed kidneys at 7 days after UUO. Full-length Shh (45 kDa) is shown. Representative (B) and quantitative data (C and D) are shown. *P < 0.05 vs. sham controls (Ctrl; n = 4). E: representative micrographs showing an increased expression of Shh and VEGFR-3 in the obstructed kidneys at 7 days after UUO. The series of sections was stained immunohistochemically with anti-Shh and anti-VEGFR-3, respectively. Boxed areas are enlarged at the right. Arrows indicate positive staining. Scale bar = 50 μm. F: transforming growth factor (TGF)-β₁ induced Shh expression in human proximal tubular epithelial cells (HKC-8) in vitro. N-Shh (19 kDa) is shown.