Fig. 5.

Effects of the nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway on podoplanin (PDPN) expression and podocyte apoptosis under high glucose conditions. To explore the effects of the NF-κB signaling pathway on PDPN expression and cell apoptosis, the NF-κB inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate was used. The protein levels of p65, p-p65, and PDPN were examined by Western blot (a, b), and the apoptosis rate was analyzed by flow cytometry (e). The relative ratio of p-p65/p65 and PDPN protein levels are shown in c, d, and the apoptosis rates of podocytes are shown in f. The data are expressed as the mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01