Mesangial cell-binding by (A) total IgG and (B) IgG₁ in serum samples of patients with inactive or active lupus nephritis, non-lupus glomerular diseases, and patients with inactive or active lupus nephritis, non-lupus glomerular diseases, and healthy controls.

<p>Mesangial cell-binding by (A) total IgG and (B) IgG₁ in serum samples of patients with inactive or active lupus nephritis, non-lupus glomerular diseases, and patients with inactive or active lupus nephritis, non-lupus glomerular diseases, and healthy controls.</p

Receiver Operator Characteristics (ROC) curve for sensitivity/specificity in renal flare prediction using the level of mesangial cell-binding by (A) total IgG and (B) IgG₁ in serum samples of 23 patients with Class III/IV±V lupus nephritis.

<p>Receiver Operator Characteristics (ROC) curve for sensitivity/specificity in renal flare prediction using the level of mesangial cell-binding by (A) total IgG and (B) IgG₁ in serum samples of 23 patients with Class III/IV±V lupus nephritis.</p

Characteristics of 23 patients with Class III/IV±V lupus nephritis who had two or more episodes of renal flare during follow-up and included in the present study.

<p>Characteristics of 23 patients with Class III/IV±V lupus nephritis who had two or more episodes of renal flare during follow-up and included in the present study.</p

The effect of sulodexide on collagen type I gene and protein expression in renal tissue in control and DN C57BL/6 mice.

<p>(A) Gene expression of collagen type I (Coll I) in control and DN mice treated with saline or sulodexide as determined by real-time PCR. (B) Representative images of collagen type I expression in control and DN mice at baseline and after 12 weeks treatment with saline or sulodexide are shown. Original magnification x1000. Image-based computer assisted analysis was performed to semi-quantify the amount of collagen type I in the (C) glomeruli and (D) tubulo-interstitium of control and DN mice. Results are expressed as mean+SD of data obtained from 6 mice per group. ^§<i>P</i><0.05, ^§§<i>P</i><0.01, ^§§§<i>P</i><0.001, compared to baseline for the same group, ^#<i>P</i><0.05, ^###<i>P</i><0.001, DN baseline vs non-diabetic baseline, ***<i>P</i><0.001, DN mice vs non-diabetic mice for the same treatment, ^‡<i>P</i><0.05, ^‡‡‡<i>P</i><0.001, saline vs sulodexide treatment for the same time-point in DN mice.</p

The effect of sulodexide on phosphorylated ERK expression in the kidneys of control and DN C57BL/6 mice.

<p>Representative images of (A) phosphorylated ERK in control and DN mice at baseline and after 12 weeks treatment with saline or sulodexide are shown. Original magnification x1000. Image-based computer assisted analysis was performed to semi-quantify the amount of phosphorylated ERK in the (B) glomeruli and (C) tubulo-interstitium of control and DN mice. Results are expressed as mean+SD of data obtained from 6 mice per group. ^§§§<i>P</i><0.001, compared to baseline for the same group, ^###<i>P</i><0.001, DN baseline vs non-diabetic baseline, ***<i>P</i><0.001, DN mice vs non-diabetic mice for the same treatment, ^‡<i>P</i><0.05, ^‡‡‡<i>P</i><0.001, saline vs sulodexide treatment for the same time-point in DN mice.</p

Negative correlation between mesangial cell-binding by (A) total IgG and (B) IgG₁ with C3 level in 23 patients with Class III/IV±V lupus nephritis.

<p>Negative correlation between mesangial cell-binding by (A) total IgG and (B) IgG₁ with C3 level in 23 patients with Class III/IV±V lupus nephritis.</p

The effect of sulodexide on TGF-β1 gene and protein expression in renal tissue in control and DN C57BL/6 mice.

<p>(A) Gene expression of TGF-β1 in control and DN mice treated with saline or sulodexide as determined by real-time PCR. (B) Representative images of TGF-β1 protein expression in control and DN mice at baseline and after 12 weeks treatment with saline or sulodexide are shown. Original magnification x1000. Image-based computer assisted analysis was performed to semi-quantify the amount of TGF-β1 in the (C) glomeruli and (D) tubulo-interstitium of control and DN mice. Results are expressed as mean+SD of data obtained from 6 mice per group. ^§<i>P</i><0.05, ^§§<i>P</i><0.01, ^§§§<i>P</i><0.001, compared to baseline for the same group, ^###<i>P</i><0.001, DN baseline vs non-diabetic baseline, *<i>P</i><0.05, ***<i>P</i><0.001, DN mice vs non-diabetic mice for the same treatment, ^‡‡‡<i>P</i><0.001, saline vs sulodexide treatment for the same time-point in DN mice.</p

The effect of sulodexide on albuminuria and renal function in control and DN C57BL/6 mice.

<p>(A) Urine albumin-to-creatinine (ACR) ratio, (B) serum creatinine level and (C) serum urea level in control and DN mice treated with saline or sulodexide are shown. Results are expressed as mean+SD of data obtained from 6 mice per group. Insert in (A) shows the effect of sulodexide on ACR in mice with microalbuminuria (white circle) and macroalbuminuria (black circle) with time. *<i>P</i><0.01, **<i>P</i><0.001, with vs without DN for the same time-point, ^#<i>P</i><0.01, DN baseline vs sulodexide-treated DN mice, ^§<i>P</i><0.001, DN baseline vs saline-treated DN mice, ^‡<i>P</i><0.01, saline vs sulodexide treatment for the same time-point.</p

Schematic diagram summarizing the pathways through which glomerulosclerosis and tubulo-interstitial fibrosis are induced in C57BL/6 mice following streptozotocin administration and the differential effect of sulodexide on fibrotic processes.

<p>Schematic diagram summarizing the pathways through which glomerulosclerosis and tubulo-interstitial fibrosis are induced in C57BL/6 mice following streptozotocin administration and the differential effect of sulodexide on fibrotic processes.</p

The effect of sulodexide on phosphorylated PKC-α expression in the kidneys of control and DN C57BL/6 mice.

<p>Representative images of (A) phosphorylated PKC-α in control and DN mice at baseline and after 12 weeks treatment with saline or sulodexide are shown. Original magnification x1000. Image-based computer assisted analysis was performed to semi-quantify the amount of phosphorylated PKC-α in the (B) glomeruli and (C) tubulo-interstitium of control and DN mice. Results are expressed as mean+SD of data obtained from 6 mice per group. ^§§§<i>P</i><0.001, compared to baseline for the same group, ^###<i>P</i><0.001, DN baseline vs non-diabetic baseline, ***<i>P</i><0.001, DN mice vs non-diabetic mice for the same treatment, ^‡‡‡<i>P</i><0.001, saline vs sulodexide treatment for the same time-point in DN mice.</p