Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis of TGF-β1 expression.

<p>(<b>A</b>) The normal control group at day 14 post-saline injection. Faint TGF-β1 staining was observed in renal tissues from normal control group mice at day 14 post-saline injection. (<b>B</b>) The UUO group at day 14 post-saline injection. TGF-β1 was markedly upregulated in the interstitial fibrotic areas and tubular epithelial cells in the UUO group at day 14. (<b>C</b>) The hAFSC group at day 14 post-hAFSCs injection. TGF-β1 expression was suppressed following hAFSCs transplantation (bar, 50 µm). (<b>D</b>) The total IOD for TGF-β1 in each group. The total IOD in each group reflected the level of TGF-β1 protein expression. TGF-β1 protein levels in the UUO group began to increase at day 7 and remained elevated at day 14 compared with the hAFSC group (p<0.05). (<b>E, F</b>) Western blot analysis of TGF-β1 protein expression. Western blot analysis showed that TGF-β1 protein levels began to increase at day 7 and remained elevated at day 14; these results were consistent with the immunohistochemistry findings. hAFSCs transplantation reduced TGF-β1 expression associated with UUO. Con, the normal control group at day 14; U1, U3, U7 and U14, the UUO group at days 1, 3, 7 and 14, respectively; hA1, hA3, hA7 and hA14, the hAFSC group at days 1, 3, 7 and 14, respectively. Values are presented as the mean±SD. *p<0.05 vs. control group; #p<0.05 vs. UUO group.