Nicotinamide mononucleotide protects against diabetic nephropathy via IL-6/Rab5-mediated crosstalk between proximal tubular epithelial cells and podocytes

Figure 2 Rab5 promotes podocyte injury by increasing nephrin endocytosis, Rab5 silencing blocks this effect, and Rab5 upregulation promotes this effect. A and B: Western blot analysis of Rab5 in podocytes after different treatments and densitometric quantification of these results (n = 3); C and D: Western blot analysis of cytoplasmic nephrin (C-nephrin) and total nephrin (T-nephrin) in podocytes after different treatments and densitometric quantification of the C-nephrin/T-nephrin ratio (n = 3); E and F: Representative electron microscopy images of podocyte spreading after different treatments (magnification: × 1000; scale bar: 50 μm) and quantification of these results (n = 3); G: Representative confocal microscopy images of podocytes after different treatments (magnification: × 1000; scale bar: 50 μm; blue nuclei; red: Cytoskeleton); H: Adhesion of podocytes after different treatments (n = 3). ^aP < 0.05; ^bP < 0.001. HG: High-dose glucose; NC: Negative control.