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. 2021 Sep 29;24(10):103193. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103193

Figure 4.

Figure 4

Silencing SMOC2 with siRNA prevents development of tubule-interstitial inflammation, fibrosis, and kidney function loss in the experimental mouse CKD model

(A) Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measurement in the CKD mice treated with PBS or SMOC2 siRNA (30 μg/200 μL) twice/week starting day 21 after disease onset till day 43 for a total of seven treatments.

(B and C) Time course of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and total urine protein to creatinine ratio (uPCR) in CKD mice treated with PBS and SMOC2 siRNA.

(D and E) Picosirius Red staining showing the interstitial fibrosis and quantification.

(F) Western blots showing the effect of silencing SMOC2 on fibrotic protein of collagen 1, α-SMA, and fibronectin in whole kidney lysates.

(G and H) Representative immunofluorescent images and quantification of protein expressions of collagen 1, α-SMA, and fibronectin in the CKD kidneys after SMOC2 silencing.

(I and J) mRNA levels of genes encoding collagen 1, α-SMA, and inflammatory genes of IL-1β and TNFα in CKD mice treated with PBS or SMOC2 siRNA.

(K–M) Representative images and quantification of LTL+, PDGFRβ+, F4/80 + cells in PBS versus SMOC2 siRNA-treated CKD mice. Immunofluorescence staining with 40x magnification and scale bar, 20 μm. n = 6/group unless otherwise stated. Data are represented as mean ± SEM.