VEGFA-Enriched Exosomes from Tendon-Derived Stem Cells Facilitate Tenocyte Differentiation, Migration, and Transition to a Fibroblastic Phenotype

Figure 4

Genetic knockdown of VEGFA suppresses the stimulatory effects of TDSC-derived exosomes on tenocyte growth, migration, and transition to a fibroblastic phenotype. (A) TDSCs with VEGFA knockdown induced by a lentivirus and control TDSCs. (B) Knockdown of VEGFA determined by western blotting and quantification. Tenocytes were treated with VEGFA or exosomes derived from shVEGFA-TDSCs or shNC-TDSCs. (C) An MTT assay to investigate the growth of tenocytes. (D, E) A transwell assay to monitor the migration of tenocytes. (F–H) The mRNA (F) and protein (G, H) levels of collagen I, α-SMA, collagen III, Scx, and TnC determined by RT-qPCR and western blotting. P <0.05, P <0.01 relative to the indicated group.

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