Proregenerative Microenvironment Triggered by Donor Mesenchymal Stem Cells Preserves Renal Function and Structure in Mice with Severe Diabetes Mellitus

Figure 2

MSC administration prevents renal fibrosis. Representative photomicrographs of kidney sections showing α-SMA immunoreactivity in glomeruli, two and eight weeks after MSC administration (a). Quantitative analysis of glomerulosclerosis index evaluated by the percentage of glomeruli exhibiting prominent signal for α-SMA in the mesangial area (b). TGF-β mRNA levels in renal tissue determined by qRT-PCR (c). Representative photomicrographs of kidney sections stained with Masson’s trichrome showing deposition of collagen eight weeks after MSC administration (d). Quantitative analysis of collagen I deposition, evaluated by point-counting method (e). mRNA level of collagen type I, fibronectin, and laminin β1 quantified by qRT-PCR eight weeks after MSC administration (f). Data are presented as mean ± SEM, . versus Normal; versus DM for the same time point. Bar = 150 μm.

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