Lyc promotes the expression of nephrin, podocin and autophagy-related proteins in MPC5 podocytes. MPC5 podocytes were divided into the following groups: i) HG (25 mM glucose); ii) HG + H-Lyc (25 mM glucose + 12.5 mM Lyc); iii) HG + 3-MA (25 mM glucose + 5 mM 3-MA); and HG + H-Lyc + 3-MA (25 mM glucose + 12.5 mM Lyc + 5 mM 3-MA). Protein expression levels of Beclin-1, LC3II and LC3I were (A) determined by western blotting and (B) semi-quantified. (C) The ratio of LC3BII/LC3BI. Protein expression levels of nephrin and podocin were (D) determined by western blotting and (E) semi-quantified. ##P<0.01 vs. HG; ^^P<0.01 vs. HG + H-Lyc; &P<0.05 and &&P<0.01 vs. HG + 3-MA. Lyc, lycopene; HG, high glucose; H-Lyc, high-concentration lycopene; 3-MA, 3-methyladenine; LC3, microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3.