Hydroxysafflor yellow A improves diabetes-induced renal fibrosis

Figures

• 

  Figure 1. The pathological changes in tissues of three groups observed by HIM and Masson (400×). NC: The rats were treated by normal saline; DM: The rats were treated with diabetes; HSYA: The diabetic rats were treated with HSYA (10 mg/kg). A – The pathological changes by HE staining (400×). B – The pathological changes by Masson staining (400×) ***P < 0.001, compared with NC; ##p < 0.01, compared with DM.

• 

  Figure 2. Effects of HSYA on miRNA-140-5p and BG, 24 UP, TC, and TG levels. NC: The rats were treated by normal saline; DM: The rats were treated with diabetes; HSYA: The diabetic rats were treated with HSYA (10 mg/kg). A – miRNA-140-5p mRNA expression by RT-qPCR assay in difference groups. B – BG, 24 UP, TC, and TG levels in difference groups ***P < 0.001, compared with NC; ##p < 0.01, compared with DM.

• 

  Figure 3. Effects of HSYA to T-AOC, MDA, IL-6, and TNF-α. NC: The rats were treated by normal saline; DM: The rats were treated with diabetes; HSYA: The diabetic rats were treated with HSYA (10 mg/kg). A – T-AOC and MDA levels of difference groups. B – IL-6 and TNF-α levels of difference groups ***P < 0.001, compared with NC; ##p < 0.01, compared with DM.

• 

  Figure 4. TLR4, NF-κB(p65), NLRP3, Notch2, and Col-IV protein levels in differet groups by IHC assay. NC: The rats were treated by normal saline; DM: The rats were treated with diabetes; HSYA: The diabetic rats were treated with HSYA (10 mg/kg). A – TLR4 protein level of difference groups by IHC assay (400×). B – NF-κB(p65) protein level of difference groups by IHC assay (400×). C – NLRP3 protein level of difference groups by IHC assay (400×). D – Notch2 protein level of difference groups by IHC assay (× 400). E – Col-IV protein level of difference groups by IHC assay (× 400) ***P < 0.001, compared with NC; ##p < 0.01, compared with DM.

• 

  Figure 5. miRNA-140-5p mRNA expression, T-AOC, MDA, IL-6, and TNF-α concentration in different groups. NC: The HK-2 cells were cultured by conventional medium; DM: The HK-2 cells were treated with diabetes; HSYA: The HK-2 cells were treated with HSYA (10 mg/kg) based on high glucose; HSYA+miRNA-140-5p inhibitor: HK-2 cells were transfected with miRNA-140-5p and treated with HSYA (10 mg/kg) based on high glucose. A – miRNA-140-5p mRNA levels in different groups by RT-qPCR assay. B – T-AOC and MDA levels in different groups. C – IL-6 and TNF-α levels in different groups ***P < 0.001, compared with NC; ##p < 0.01, compared with DM; $$$p < 0.001, compared with HSYA.

• 

  Figure 6. The relative protein expressions in different groups by WB assay. NC: The HK-2 cells were cultured by conventional medium; DM: The HK-2 cells were treated with diabetes; HSYA: The HK-2 cells were treated with HSYA (10 mg/kg) based on high glucose; HSYA + miRNA-140-5p inhibitor: HK-2 cells were transfected with miRNA-140-5p and treated with HSYA (10 mg/kg) based on high glucose ***P < 0.001, compared with NC; ##p < 0.01, compared with DM; $$$p < 0.001, compared with HSYA.

• 

  Figure 7. TLR4 and Notch2 location and protein volume in different groups by cellular immunofluorescence. A – TLR4 location in different groups by cellular immunofluorescence (200×). B – Notch2 location in different groups by cellular immunofluorescence (200×). ***P < 0.001, compared with NC; ##p < 0.01, compared with DM; $$$p < 0.001, compared with HSYA.

• 

  Figure 8. NLRP3 and Col-IV location and protein volume in different groups by cellular immunofluorescence. A – NLRP3 location in different groups by cellular immunofluorescence (200×). B – Col-IV location in different groups by cellular immunofluorescence (200×) ***P < 0.001, compared with NC; ##p < 0.01, compared with DM; $$$p < 0.001, compared with HSYA.

• 

  Figure 9. NF-κB(p65) location and nuclear volume in different groups by cellular immunofluorescence (200×) ***P < 0.001, compared with NC; ##p < 0.01, compared with DM; $$$p < 0.001, compared with HSYA.

• 

  Figure 10. The correlation between miRNA-140-5p and TLR4 in HK-2 cells **P < 0.01, compared with miRNA-NC.