Receptor Notch-3 - role in kidney fibrosis using an UUO model

Gene array of kidney tissue of wild type and Notch-3 knockout mice was performed following unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Kidney fibrosis and inflammation were analyzed following unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). UUO was performed with gender matched 12-16 weeks old mice. The right ureters of wild type and Notch3 knockout mice were ligated for 5 days. Both kidneys were collected for preparation of cortical RNA. Contralateral (left untretaed kidney) were harvested for comparative analyses. To gain insight into the mechanism(s) by which Notch3-deficiency alters the pattern of kidney damage, gene expression analysis of UUO kidneys is performed. The expression of fibrosis relevant genes, cytokines&chemokines as well as Notch receptor family members was compared in wild type UUO day 5 samples versus Notch3-/- UUO day 5 samples.