Figure 5

Proliferation, microvascular rarefaction, and apoptosis in UUO kidneys. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed representative images of CD31 and PCNA staining in UUO kidneys treated with vehicle control, KMSC, KMSC-derived MP, and MP-RNase (A, upper panel, CD31; brown color, PCNA; red color). Quantitative analysis of PCNA-positive cells (black arrows) per field in UUO kidneys. The PCNA-positive counting was used to assess the proliferation of tubular epithelial cells and peritubular capillaries (B). Quantitative analysis of PTC rarefaction index was determined by CD31 staining (B). Representative images of TUNEL and CD31 staining in UUO kidneys by confocal laser microscope analysis (A, lower panel, CD31; red color, TUNEL; green color). Quantitative analysis demonstrates the total number of TUNEL-positive nuclei and both TUNEL and CD31-positive PTC nuclei (white arrows) in UUO kidneys injected with KMSCs and KMSC-derived MPs, compared to those injected with vehicle control or MP-RNase. Results are expressed as the mean ± SE of six different experiments. The Kruskal-Wallis test was performed; * P <0.05 versus vehicle control (B). Black bar represents 50 μm. White bar represents 20 μm. KMSC, kidney-derived mesenchymal stem cells; MPs, microparticles; PCNA, proliferating cell nuclear antigen; PTC, peritubular capillaries; SE, standard error; TUNEL, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling; UUO, unilateral uretal obstruction.