Figure 1
Minocycline, but not the pan-caspase inhibitor CIX, protects from diabetic nephropathy in db/db mice.
Albuminuria (a) and extracellular matrix accumulation, as reflected by the fractional mesangial area (FMA, c,d) are decreased in minocycline (Mino) receiving db/db mice as compared to PBS-receiving db/db control mice (C, db/db). Application of CIX (+CIX, targeting caspases-3, -6, -7, -8 and -10) has no impact on these markers in db/db mice. Blood glucose levels are comparable among experimental groups (b). All treatment strategies were initiated at age 8 weeks and continued for 12 weeks. Mean values ± SEM (a,b,d). Representative PAS-stained glomeruli (c, size bar: 20 μm); *P < 0.05, ns: non-significant (a,b,d: ANOVA). Number of mice in each group is shown in parentheses in (a).
