Fig. 1

G-CSF treatment ameliorated disease activity, proteinuria, and mortality in lupus nephritis. a The G-CSF group had significantly lower proteinuria than the PBS group throughout the study period (P < 0.01, generalized estimating equation). When we decreased Tregs by PC61 administration at a dose of 0.5 mg 3 times a week during G-CSF treatment, Treg reduction abrogated beneficial effects of G-CSF on proteinuria. b Urine albumin/creatinine ratio was also significantly decreased at 32 (P < 0.01) and 36 weeks (P < 0.05) in the G-CSF group. c The G-CSF group had better survival rates than the PBS group (P < 0.05, log-rank test). d-e Serum levels of BUN (d) at 32 weeks and creatinine (e) at 32 and 36 weeks were significantly decreased by G-CSF treatment (P < 0.05, t test). f Serum levels of anti-dsDNA at 36 weeks were significantly lower in the G-CSF group (P < 0.05, t-test). g Serum C3 levels at 36 weeks were significantly higher in the G-CSF group (P < 0.05, t-test). The data are expressed as the mean ± standard error of the mean, with n = 14 − 16 mice per group. White and black bars indicate the G-CSF group and the PBS group, respectively. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 for comparisons between the G-CSF and the PBS groups. C3: complement component 3; G-CSF: granulocyte colony-stimulating factor; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline