Fig. 3

Effect of TLR9 knockdown on glomerular expansion and the expression levels of fibronectin and collagen IV in renal tissue from experimental mice (db/db). Experimental mice (db/db) were administered lentiviral-shRNA-NC or lentiviral-shRNA-TLR9 via tail vein injection. A Representative image of PAS-stained renal cortical slices from mice (db/m), experimental mice (db/db), NC-treated experimental-mice (db/db), and TLR9 knockdown experimental mice (db/db). GMI scores calculated based on the analysis of six glomeruli per mice. B RT-PCR was conducted to determine the mRNA expression levels of fibronectin and collagen IV in renal tissues. C WB was conducted to determine the protein levels of fibronectin and collagen IV in renal tissues. The data are representative of the results of three independent experiments, and the data are presented as means ± S.E.M (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001)