Next, we assessed the deposition of glomerular immune complexes and the podocyte damage of the two groups. Figure 4a shows representative images of immunofluorescence (IF) IgG staining. In accordance with the light microscopy findings, the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of IgG staining in the α-GalCer group was significantly weaker (Fig. 4b).Figure 4Alpha-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) treatment decreases the deposition of glomerular immune complexes and ameliorates podocyte injury. Representative images of (a) immunofluorescence (IF) IgG staining, (c) immunoperoxidase WT-1 staining, and (e) IF nephrin staining of kidney slices in the vehicle (left) and α-GalCer (right) groups. In (c) and (e), arrows indicate positively stained cells or areas. (b) MFI (mean fluorescence intensity) of IgG staining, (d) WT-1 positive cells/glomeruli, and (f) semiquantitative nephrin IF score in each group (vehicle group; n = 5, α-GalCer group; n = 7). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 compared with the vehicle group. (g) Representative electron microscopy photomicrographs of kidney slices in the vehicle (left) and α-GalCer (right) groups. Widespread effacement of podocyte foot processes (red arrows) and electron dense immune deposits (red arrowheads) are shown in the vehicle group. Endocapillary infiltration of inflammatory cells was also observed (yellow asterisks).