Immunoactivity of phosphorylated p38 in IgA nephropathy patients according to the grade of interstitial fibrosis (original magnification x100).

Control panel shows the phosphorylated p38 kidney tissue activity among patients who have no pathologic changes in kidney biopsy specimens. (Fig 1-A) The immunoactivity of phosphorylated p38 in tissues from IgA nephropathy patients with moderate interstitial fibrosis (Fig 1-D) was higher than that in tissues from patients with no interstitial fibrosis (Fig 1-B) or mild interstitial fibrosis (Fig 1-C). The immunoactivity of phosphorylated p38 in patients with a high degree of interstitial fibrosis was higher than immunoactivity in those with a low degree of kidney interstitial fibrosis (Fig 1-E; overall P P = 0.588; none vs. moderate to severe, P = 0.001; mild vs. moderate to severe, P = 0.021).