Receptor Activator of NF-kappaB and Podocytes: Towards a Function of a Novel Receptor-Ligand Pair in the Survival Response of Podocyte Injury
Figure 3
LPS-induced RANK was Independent of T or B Cell in SCID Mice.
(A) LPS injection induces RANK in podocytes as shown by double labeling with synaptopodin. RANK expression (red) was low in PBS-injected SCID controls and colocalized with the podocyte marker synaptopodin (green). Mice treated with LPS, RANK expression was upregulated in podocytes, resulted in a yellow overlap with synaptopodin (Merge). (B) LPS injection causes severe foot process effacement within 24 h in mice, but not in PBS-injected control animals. (C) LPS injection causes severe proteinuria in SCID mice at 24 h (n = 3; PBS control 0.5±0.2 versus LPS 2.5±0.8; p<0.001). (D) RANK protein expression was determined by using Western blot analysis. RANK protein was in low abundance in the PBS group. However, RANK increased in the LPS group.