FIGURE 5.

Inhibition of the EP₁ receptor attenuates TGF‐β‐induced fibrosis in human precision‐cut kidney slices (PCKS). (A) EP₁ receptor mRNA expression was studied by qPCR in human PCKS incubated with TGF‐β for 24 and 48 hours. Relative expression was calculated using the reference gene RPL22 (n = 10). (B) Representative immunofluorescent images of EP₁ receptor expression in human PCKS. Scale bar is 50 μm. (C, D) Gene expression of fibronectin (FN), alpha‐smooth muscle actin (αSMA) and collagen 1a1 (Col‐1a1) was studied by qPCR in human PCKS incubated with TGF‐β (10 ng/mL) in the absence or presence of SC‐19220 (225 µM) for 24 and 48 hours, respectively. Relative expression was calculated using the reference gene RPL22 (n = 13). (E) Viability of human PCKS after treatment with TGF‐β in the absence or presence of SC‐19220, assessed by the ATP content of the slices (n = 13). Data are presented as means ± SEM; *P < .05 compared to control, ^# P < .05 compared to TGF‐β‐incubated human PCKS