TSF treatment inhibits expression of the TGF-β1 and TGF-β receptors in DN rats.

(A) Immunohistochemistry. Original magnification,× 200and real-time PCR for TGF-β1. (B) Western blot and semi-quantitative analysis of renal TGF-β receptor II (TβRII), phosphorylation of TGF-β receptor I (p-TβRI) and TβRI, respectively. A marked activation of TGF-β/TGF-β receptor signaling in the diabetic kidney is blocked by TSF treatment. Data are expressed as means ± SE for each group of 9 rats. *P<0.05, **P<0.01 TSF-treated group vs. DN group; ^#P<0.05, ^##P<0.01, ^###P<0.001 DN group vs. normal group.