<i>tm</i>HIF-2α.HA(+) mice develop renal fibrosis and have impaired renal function.

<p>A. Representative photographs of the whole kidney from 15 month old <i>tm</i>HIF-2α.HA transgenic mice. The <i>tm</i>HIF-2α.HA(−) kidneys show a smooth surface, whereas the <i>tm</i>HIF-2α.HA(+) kidneys have an irregular surface structure. B. Immunohistological staining against collagen I shows increased interstitial deposition in close proximity to <i>tm</i>HIF-2α.HA expression in the transgenic kidney. C. Renal fibrosis was scored after SiriusRed staining of collagens. Increased fibrosis was detected in the kidneys of <i>tm</i>HIF-2α.HA(+) mice (results represent mean values of analyzed animals per strain with the error bars being standard deviation; <i>tm</i>HIF-2α.HA(−), n = 10; <i>tm</i>HIF-2α.HA(+), n = 11; * indicates p<0.05). D. The mRNA expression of the fibrosis associated gene TGFβ1 was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR in whole kidney extracts. The expression was clearly up-regulated in the <i>tm</i>HIF-2α.HA(+) mice (results represent mean values with the error bars being standard deviation; n = 5 per strain). E. Renal function was analyzed by measurement of creatinine in the serum of the transgenic mice. <i>tm</i>HIF-2α.HA(+) mice have significantly increased plasma creatinine levels (* indicates p<0.05).