Fig. 1: Reduction of PCAF in PTCs during the progression of renal fibrosis.

a, mRNA levels of PCAF in the kidneys of patients with diabetes mellitus were analyzed using publicly available data, GSE142025 (early DN, n = 6; advanced DN, n = 22; control, n = 9). b, Representative images of MTS and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for α-SMA and PCAF in the kidney samples from the UUO-induced renal fibrosis model (sham, n = 4; UUO, n = 5). c, Protein levels of PCAF in kidney tissues from the UUO-induced renal fibrosis model. d, Representative IHC and MTS images showing the time-dependent PCAF expression in AQP1-positive cells in the kidney samples from the UUO-induced renal fibrosis model post-UUO surgery. The dotted lines represent individual proximal tubule units. e, Evaluation of PCAF expression in AQP1-positive cells using H-scoring (n = 3 per group). f, Representative images of co-immunofluorescence (IF) for PCAF and AQP1 in the kidney samples from the UUO-induced renal fibrosis model (n = 5 per group). The dotted lines represent individual proximal tubule units. The graph illustrates the fluorescence intensity of PCAF in AQP1-positive cells. Data are presented as mean ± s.e.m., *P < 0.05 **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001 by t-test for two groups and ordinary one-way ANOVA for multiple groups.