Fig 1: Validation of the expression of the mTOR pathway markers in diabetic nephropathy. (A,B) Box plots of the expression of mTOR pathway markers EIF4B, RICTOR, and PRKCB in control and diabetic nephropathy samples in the (A) GSE111154 and (B) GSE142025 datasets. DN: diabetic nephropathy. (C) H&E staining of the morphology of kidney tissues in the control group and the diabetic nephropathy rat model group. Scale bar, 100 µm; magnification, ×400. (D) The mRNA expression of EIF4B, RICTOR, and PRKCB was determined in kidney tissues from the control and diabetic nephropathy groups through RT-qPCR. (E,F) The expression of EIF4B, RICTOR, and PRKCB proteins was determined in kidney tissues from the control and diabetic nephropathy groups through Western blot. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001; ****p < 0.0001.