Fig. 1

High glucose promoted Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation and extracellular matrix formation in vitro and in vivo. (A) Protein and (B) mRNA expression of Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related factors were measured via Western blotting and real-time PCR using RTECs after stimulation with high glucose (HG, 30 mM) for 48 h (n = 3). (C) Protein expression and (D) mRNA levels of the above factors were measured in DKD renal tissues from mice (n = 6). (E) Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to assess the expression of β-catenin in DKD renal tissues from mice, and the percent positive area was scored using ImageJ. Fibronectin and E-cadherin (F) protein expression and (G) mRNA levels were measured via Western blotting and real-time PCR using RTECs after stimulation with high glucose (HG, 30 mM) for 48 h (n = 3); (H) protein and (I) mRNA expression levels of fibronectin and E-cadherin were measured in DKD renal tissues (n = 6); (J) IHC was used to assess the expression of fibronectin in DKD renal tissues from mice, and the percent positive area was scored using ImageJ. The data are expressed as means ± SDs. DKD, diabetic kidney disease; RTECs, renal tubular epithelial cells. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, and ****p < 0.000 vs. control.