Figure 1

MMP-2 activity, AGE accumulation and RAGE expression in the renal tubules of diabetic or AGE-RSA-infused rats. (A) MMP-2 activity in 32-week Ctrl or diabetic renal tubules with or without ramipril treatment was determined by gelatin zymography (n = 4). (B) AGE protein levels in 32-week Ctrl or diabetic renal tubules with or without ramipril treatment were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for carboxymethyllisine (n = 7). (C) RAGE protein expression in 32-week Ctrl or diabetic renal tubules with or without ramipril treatment was determined by western blot. Data were normalized by the intensity of α-tubulin bands. (n = 4). (D) RAGE gene expression in total kidney cortex of AGE-RSA- or RSA-infused rats was evaluated by quantitative real-time RT-PCR (n = 7). (E) MMP-2 activity in the tubules of AGE-RSA- or RSA-infused rats was determined by gelatin zymography (n = 4). Data are shown as mean ± SEM.