Fig. 1: The immune response was progressively enhanced and the renal function was gradually deteriorated.

A Schematic representation of experimental grouping. The animals were divided into six groups based on age: 4 weeks (4w), 8 weeks (8w), 12 weeks (12w), 16 weeks (16w), 20 weeks (20w), 24 weeks (24w). Sac: sacrifice. B 24-h proteinuria levels were measured in six groups of mice: Con (control group, MRL/MPJ) and LN (LN group, MRL/lpr). C Serum ANA (antinuclear antibody) levels in the six groups of mice. D PAS staining, immunofluorescence staining (IgG, IgM, C3), and electron microscopy results of glomeruli from 4w LN, 12w LN, and 20w LN mice, with red arrows indicating immune complexes deposited in different parts of the glomerulus. E H&E staining, immunohistochemical CD45 staining, and Masson’s trichrome staining were used to observe the infiltration of interstitial immune cells in different parts of the renal cortex and medulla and the degree of fibrosis in the renal cortex of mice, with black arrows indicating immune cells infiltrated in different parts of the kidneys. Data are presented as mean ± SD. (n = 6). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001; #p < 0.05, ##p < 0.01, ###p < 0.001; * represents the significant degree of difference between the LN and Con groups. # represents the significance of the differences among the six groups of LN mice. PAS scale bar: 10 μm, immunofluorescence scale bar: 50 μm, transmission electron microscopy scale bar: 2 μm, H&E scale bar: 50 μm, CD45 scale bar: 20 μm, Masson scale bar: 50 μm.