Fig. 2.

Knockdown of Sp1 reduces klotho expression and induces α-SMA and Fibronectin expression. HK-2 cells (a-b) or HEK-293 cells (c-d) were transfected with increasing amount of Sp1-targeted siRNA or control siRNA. 48 h after transfection, total proteins were isolated and the protein levels of Sp1 and Klotho were detected by Western blots (a/c). Cell total RNAs were isolated for quantitative RT-PCR to analyze the mRNA level of Klotho (b/d). Total proteins were isolated and the protein levels of E-cadherin, α-SMA, Fibronectin were detected by Western blots (e). Data were expressed as the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. ***p < 0.001. Ctrl siRNA: control siRNA