Fig. 1

Epithelial and interstitial Notch1 activity is associated with the myofibroblastic phenotype in UUO kidneys. a Enhanced expression of Ki67 in UUO kidneys determined by immunohistochemical staining. Bar = 50 μm. b Upregulated Ki67 expression occurred in the tubules and interstitium of the kidney. c Increased expression of Histone H3 (phosphor S10) and c-Myc in UUO kidneys determined by western blot. d The mRNA expression levels of c-Myc and P53 were augmented in UUO kidneys determined by qRT-PCR. e Immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression levels of Notch1 and NICD were elevated in UUO kidneys. Bar = 50 μm. f NICD expression was upregulated in the tubules and interstitium of kidneys. g mRNA microarray revealed enhanced expression of Notch1-associated genes in UUO kidneys. h The expression levels of NICD, Notch1 and Jagged1 in UUO kidneys were increased. i Increased mRNA expression levels of Hes1, Hes6, Hey1, Hey2, and Numb in UUO kidneys were observed. j Elevated expression of Notch1, NICD and α-SMA determined by immunofluorescence staining in renal tubules and interstitium of CKD patients. All data are presented as means ± SDs. ^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.01 versus the sham group