Figure 6.

Partial Inhibition of mTORC1 by Heterozygous Raptor KO in RPTCs Prevents Fibrosis and Preserves Kidney Function

RPTC-specific Raptor KO (Sglt2Cre;Raptor^fl/+) in Akita and control mice was obtained by crossbreeding Raptor-floxed mice (Raptor^fl/fl) with the iL1-Sglt2-Cre transgenic mice. Analyses were performed on 5-month-old mice.

(A–M) mTORC1 activity based on immunofluorescence and western blotting for pS6 (A and B), (C) urine glucose, (D) 24 h water intake, (E–G) PAS staining (E) and quantifications of glomerular (F) and Bowman’s space (G) cross-sectional areas, (H and I) urine KIM-1 and ACR levels, (J) serum creatinine, (K) creatinine clearance, (L) immunofluorescence for cystatin-C, and (M) for collagen III.

Scale bar, 50 μm. Data represent the mean ± SEM of four or five mice per group. ^∗p < 0.05 and ^∗∗p < 0.01 relative to the wild-type control group; ^##p < 0.01 relative to the Akita control group.