Figure 4 | Scientific Reports

Figure 4

From: Quercetin Inhibits Fibroblast Activation and Kidney Fibrosis Involving the Suppression of Mammalian Target of Rapamycin and β-catenin Signaling

Figure 4

mTOR and β-catenin signaling but not Smad phosphorylation are inhibited by quercetin treatment in the UUO kidneys.

(A) Western blot analyses showing the abundance of p-4E BP (T37/46), p-Akt (Ser473), p-β-catenin (Ser675) and p-Smad3 (S423/425) in the kidney lysates from mice w/o quercetin treatment. Kidney lysates from each individual animal within each group were pooled together to run the gel. Ab against GAPDH was probed to show the equal loading among different groups. The gels were run under the same experimental conditions. (B) Representative micrographs showing the immuno-staining results for p-4E BP (T37/46), β-catenin and p-Smad3 (S423/425) in the kidneys at 2 weeks after UUO. Arrows indicate immuno-staining positive interstitial cells in the kidneys. Scale bar = 20 μm. (C) The graphs showing the number for p-4E BP, nuclear β-catenin, or p-Smad3 staining positive interstitial cells within groups. *P < 0.05 compared with contra lateral kidneys (n = 4); #P < 0.05 compared with UUO kidneys with vehicle treatment (n = 4).

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