Effect of SCF ASON treatment on inflammation and TEC apoptosis.

<p>(A and B) The concentration of renal (A) KC and (B) IL-1β was measured by ELISA in whole kidney homogenates. An increase in the concentration KC was detected in samples obtained from ASON treated animals (▪) subjected to ischemia compared to controls (□) (*<i>P</i> = 0.03). No significant difference was detected in the concentration of IL-1β between NSON (□) and ASON (▪) treated animals. Data are expressed as mean±SEM. (C) Gr-1 positive cells were counted per hpf. Few Gr-1 positive passenger leukocytes were detected in sham operated animals. In contrast, the number of Gr-1 positive cells increased at day 1 after ischemia. No significant statistical difference was detected between the number of positive cells per hpf in NSON (□) or ASON (▪) treated animals. Data are expressed as mean±SEM. (D) Apoptosis of TEC was determined by immunostaining of tissue sections using an antibody to the active form of caspase 3. Positive TEC were counted per hpf, significantly more apoptotic TEC were detected in ASON treated animals (▪) compared to controls (□) at day 1 after ischemia (*<i>P</i> = 0.0005). Data are expressed as mean±SEM. (E) Proliferation of TEC was determined using an antibody to Ki.67 (right). Kidneys from ASON treated animals (▪) contained less proliferating TEC compared to NSON controls (□) at day 1 after ischemia (*<i>P</i> = 0.0009). Data are expressed as mean±SEM.