Knockdown of BRG1 ameliorates renal fibrosis in UUO mice
(A) Experimental design. Red arrow indicates the injection of pGPH1-shBRG1 (BRG1-shR) or pGPH1-vector (Ctrl-shR) plasmids. Black arrows indicate the timing of UUO surgery. (B,C) Western blot analysis showed that renal expression of BRG1 was successfully knockdown after injection with BRG1-shRNA plasmids in UUO mice. Representative Western blot of BRG1 (B) and quantification results (C) are presented. ***P<0.001 versus sham group; ###P<0.001 versus UUO alone (n=6). (D) Masson’s trichrome staining revealed that tubulointerstitial collagen deposition were reduced by knockdown of BRG1 in UUO mice. Scale bar, 50 μm. (E) Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated fibronectin, collagen I, and α-SMA protein expression in three groups as indicated. Scale bar, 50 μm. (F) Western blot analysis showed that renal fibronectin, collagen I, and α-SMA proteins expression were significantly inhibited by knockdown of BRG1 in UUO mice. (G) Graphic representation of renal fibrotic area in three groups after quantitative determination. (H–J) Graphic representations of renal fibronectin (H), collagen I (I), and α-SMA (J) proteins expression in three groups as indicated. ***P<0.001 versus sham group; ###P<0.001 versus UUO alone (n=6).