Fig. 3

ACE2 deficiency resulted in elevated AT1 receptor levels and renal inflammation in ApoE/ACE2 DKO kidneys. a, b The Western blot analysis for AT1 receptor protein (a) and representative immunohistological staining images for AT1 receptor (b) showing upregulation of AT1 receptor levels in the ApoE/ACE2 DKO kidneys compared with the ApoEKO kidneys. n = 5; β-actin was used as an endogenous control. c, d Quantification of cytokines in kidney tissues of the ApoEKO and ApoE/ACE2 DKO mice by the mouse cytokine-specific antibody arrays (array C3: upper; array C4: bottom). n = 3 for each group. Please see the related description in Table 3. AU arbitrary units, ApoE apolipoprotein E, KO knockout, DKO the ApoE/ACE2 double knockout. **P < 0.01 compared with ApoEKO group.