Fig. 6. Renal TEC-specific GSK3β gene deletion or lithium improves kidney fibrosis in folic FA-elicited progressive CKD.

A Schematic diagram of the strategy for generation of mice with renal tubular epithelial cell-specific GSK3β gene knockout (KO). B Representative photos showing PCR analysis of the genomic DNA extracted from the clipped tail tissues. Genotypes of representative litters are indicated; fl, GSK3β floxed; WT, wild type. Mice with the genotype GSK3β^fl/fl, Cre were used as KO group. Control littermates served as control (Con). C The schematic diagram depicts the experimental design. Mice were injured with an injection of FA (250 mg/kg) and 7 days later were treated with or without LiCl (40 mg/kg). Mice were followed up and euthanized on day 14 after FA injection, blood and kidney specimens were collected and processed for further examinations. D Quantification of blood urea nitrogen (BUN). *^, **^, ***P < 0.05 (n = 6, ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test). E Kidney specimens were homogenized for immunoblot analysis for FN, GSK3β, and GAPDH. Representative immunoblots were shown. F Densitometric analyses of the expression of FN and GSK3β, as normalized to the expression of GAPDH and expressed as fold changes relative to the control group based on immunoblot analysis. *^, **^, ***P < 0.05 (n = 6, ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test). G Representative micrographs of immunofluorescence staining for FN (red) with nuclear counterstaining with DAPI (blue), or immunohistochemistry staining for collagen I. Scale bar = 100 μm.