Fig. 6

Effects of TGFβ1 on the production of C3 and other complement components. A mRNA levels of C3 (N = 12), C3AR1 (N = 10), and C1qa (N = 8) in the presence of TGFβ1 or SB431542 in bone marrow cell-cultures of NZB/W mice. B mRNA levels of C3 (N = 14), C3aR1 (N = 15), and C1qa (N = 14) in the presence of TGFβ1 or SB431542 in kidney primary cell-cultures of NZB/W mice. C mRNA levels of C3 (N = 11), C3AR1 (N = 5), and C1qa (N = 7) in the presence of TGFβ1 or SB431542 in PBMC-cultures of LN patients. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001. D Immunohistochemical analysis of C1q, C3, C5, and their receptors (C3aR, C5aR1) in the kidneys of NZB/W mice treated with SB431542 or saline as control. E Immunofluorescence analysis of C3 in the kidney of NZB/W mice: 32-week-old mice treated with SB431542, 32-week-old mice treated with saline, and 8-week-old mice without treatment. Red fluorescence indicates C3 and blue fluorescence indicates nuclei