Fig. 6: Legumain deficiency attenuates tubular injury and ferroptosis in folic acid-induced AKI.

Folic acid was administrated intraperitoneally to lgmn^WT and lgmn^KO mice, and samples were collected at 24 and 48 hours after injection (n = 8) A Renal functions assessed by serum creatinine and BUN levels. B Quantification of kidney KIM-1 and NGAL mRNA levels by qPCR. C Representative images of PAS-stained kidney sections. Scale bar, 50 μm. D Quantification of histological renal damage. Tubular dilation and brush border damage are scored, and protein casts are presented as percentage areas. E Quantification of kidney Acsl4 and Cox-2 mRNA levels by qPCR. F Lipid peroxidation levels in kidneys were measured by MDA assay. G Protein levels of GPX4 in kidney samples assessed by western blotting. Right panel shows the statistical data. H Primary renal tubular epithelial cells were isolated from lgmn^WT and lgmn^KO mice after injection of folic acid and the protein level of GPX4 was quantified by western blotting. Left panels show representative images and the right panel shows the statistical data. All data are expressed as the mean ± SD. ^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.01, ^***P < 0.001; two-way ANOVA.