Fig. 4.

The knockdown of adiponectin exacerbates intracellular inflammation and apoptosis in MPC5 cells. Podocytes were transfected with siRNA against adiponectin or NC siRNA. a, The transfection efficiency was evaluated by qRT-PCR and Western blot. *** p < 0.001 vs. the NC siRNA group. b, CCK-8 assay was used to evaluate cell viability after transfection. ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 vs. controls. c, The percentage of apoptotic cells was determined after the transfection. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01,*** p < 0.001 vs. controls. d, The mRNA expressions of nephrin, podocin, desmin, NLRP3, caspase-1, and NF-κB were evaluated by qRT-PCR. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 vs. controls. e-f, Western Blot analysis of nephrin, podocin, desmin, NLRP3, caspase-1, and NF-κB. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 vs. controls. g, Levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-18 and IL-1β were assessed by ELISA. *** p < 0.001 vs. controls. Data are presented as mean ± SEM from three independent experiments