Fig. 5

SCF/c-kit aggravates RIF in UUO mice via activation of the NF-κB pathway. A Western blot analysis of WT showed that UUO-induced fibrosis was accompanied by increased expression of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-1β, as well as activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, as indicated by elevated pp65/p65 and p-IκBα/IκBα ratios. These changes were most pronounced at 3d (n = 4). C Western blot analysis demonstrated that, compared with the WT Sham, both WT and Ggt1-Cre c-kit^−/− subjected to UUO 14d exhibited increased expression of IL-6 and IL-1β and activation of the NF-κB pathway (elevated pp65/p65 and p-IκBα/IκBα ratios). At UUO 14d, these increases were significantly more pronounced in WT than in Ggt1-Cre c-kit^−/−. (n = 3). B, D Quantitative analysis of the expression levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and NF-κB pathway-related proteins (pp65/p65, p-IκBα/IκBα), normalized to Gapdh and β-actin. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001. WT: Wild Type; TECs: Tubular Epithelial Cells; UUO: Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction; RIF: Renal Interstitial Fibrosis; IκBα: inhibitor of kappa B alpha; NF-κB: Nuclear Factor Kappa-Light-Chain-Enhancer of Activated B Cells; IL: Interleukin.