Fig. 5

Anti-renal fibrosis effects of K3-HBc/CLT in UUO-induced renal fibrosis. A Flow diagram of the treatment of 0.9% NaCl, CLT or K3-HBc/CLT against the UUO mice model. B The gross-morphological images of kidney tissue from each group. C Kidney index of the UUO mice were measured (obstructed kidney weight /body weight × 100 or non-obstructed kidney/body weight × 100) (n = 5). D Representative images of H&E staining of kidney sections after different treatments as indicated. E Representative images of Masson’s trichrome staining of kidney sections after different treatments as indicated. G Quantification of Masson’s trichrome positive area of collagen-like matrix deposition (n = 6). F Representative micrographs of the expression and distribution of α-SMA, TGF-β and collagen I in kidney tissues sections using immunohistochemical staining and the semi-quantitative IOD analyses of (H) α-SMA, (I) TGF-β and (J) collagen I (n = 6). K Western blot analyses of α-SMA and Vimentin in mice on day 14 after treatment with CLT or K3-HBc/CLT and quantitative analyses of protein levels of (L) α-SMA and (M) Vimentin (n = 3). N The body weights within 2 weeks measured every two days in different groups (n = 5). Scale bar, 100 μm (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001)