Fig. 3

Macrophage removal alleviated succinate-induced kidney interstitial fibrosis. A F4/80 immunohistochemistry staining showed clodronate liposomes effectively removed kidney interstitial macrophages of mice. B Clodronate liposomes markedly prevented succinate-mediated upregulation of M2-related profibrotic factors in the kidney. ***P < 0.001, versus control group; &&&P < 0.001, versus succinate group, n = 10 in the control group, n = 9 in succinate group and n = 7 in clodronate liposomes group. C Masson and Sirius Red staining (D) revealed succinate-induced interstitial fibrosis was alleviated by clodronate liposomes. ***P < 0.001, versus control group; &&&P < 0.001, versus succinate group, n = 10 in control group, n = 9 in succinate group and n = 7 in clodronate liposomes group. E The elevation of protein levels of renal fibronectin and α-SMA was revised by clodronate liposomes. ***P < 0.001, versus control group; &&&P < 0.001, &P < 0.05, versus succinate group, n = 10 in control group, n = 9 in succinate group and n = 7 in clodronate liposomes group