Table 3 Collagen accumulation, proliferation, and TGF- β expression in the STZ rat diabetes model. In contrast to in vitro data, upregulation of matrix proteins increases after long periods of incubation. TGF- β: transforming growth factor - β, N.S.: not significant, -: indicates no data. The arrows indicate the magnitude of change relative to controls. A single arrow pointing upwards indicates a statistically significant increase in the respective protein expression, and a double arrow indicates a substantially larger increase in protein expression relative to control

From: Pathophysiology of mesangial expansion in diabetic nephropathy: mesangial structure, glomerular biomechanics, and biochemical signaling and regulation