Fig. 9.

AMI-1 inhibits transforming growth factor (TGF)-β₁ and TGF-β receptor type I (TGFβRI) expression and prevents Smad7 downregulation in obstructed kidneys and suppresses TGFβRI expression and preserves Smad7 expression in cultured renal fibroblasts. Kidney tissue (A–D) and NRK-49F cells (E–G) were collected after various treatments as indicated in materials and methods. The prepared tissue or cell lysates were subjected to immunoblot analysis with antibodies against TGF-β₁ (A), TGF-βRI (A and E), or Smad7 (A and E). TGF-β₁ (B), TGF-βRI (C and F), or Smad7 (D and G) were quantified by densitometry and normalized with GAPDH. Values are means ± SD of at least three independent experiments. *P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01 vs. the sham control group or other groups as indicated. UUO, unilateral ureteral obstruction.