Fig. 5: Ectopic CD44 aggravates tubular cell apoptosis and kidney injury in IRI mice.

A Experimental design: Green arrow indicated the injection of pcDNA3 plasmid or p-HA-CD44 overexpression plasmid. Mice were subjected to IRI surgery or sham surgery, respectively, as shown in the red arrow. Mice are euthanized 24 h after surgery. B Scr levels in three groups, as indicated. Scr was expressed as milligrams per deciliter. *P < 0.05 versus sham group; ^#P < 0.05 versus IRI group injected with pcDNA3 (n = 5). C BUN levels in three groups, as indicated. BUN was expressed as milligrams per deciliter. **P < 0.01 versus sham group; ^#P < 0.05 versus IRI group injected with pcDNA3 (n = 5). D and E Representative western blot of CD44 (D) and graphical presentations (E) of protein levels are shown. **P < 0.01 versus sham group; ^#P < 0.05 versus IRI group injected with pcDNA3 (n = 5). F Representative micrographs show the expression of CD44, and TUNEL assay in different groups, as indicated. Arrows indicate positive staining. Frozen kidney sections were subjected to TUNEL assay or stained with an antibody against CD44. Scale bar, 50 μm. G–J Representative western blot (G) and graphical presentations of H BCL2, I BAX, and J cleaved caspase 3 protein expression levels are shown. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 versus sham group; ^#P < 0.05, ^###P < 0.001 versus IRI group injected with pcDNA3 (n = 5). K and L Representative western blot of NGAL (K) and graphical presentations (L) of protein levels are shown. **P < 0.01 versus sham group; ^##P < 0.01 versus IRI group injected with pcDNA3 (n = 5). M Representative micrographs show renal tubular morphologic injury and the expression of KIM-1 in different groups, as indicated. Paraffin sections were subjected to PAS staining, and were stained with an antibody against KIM-1. Arrows indicate positive staining. Scale bar, 50 μm.