Exosomal circEhmt1 Released from Hypoxia-Pretreated Pericytes Regulates High Glucose-Induced Microvascular Dysfunction via the NFIA/NLRP3 Pathway

Figure 4

Exosomal circEhmt1 protected endotheliocytes from HG-induced injury by downregulating the NFIA/NLRP3 pathway. (a) Exosomes derived from hypoxia pericytes were labeled with the membrane fluorescent red dye PKH26 and subsequently used in exosome uptake assays. (b) circEhmt1 was mainly expressed in the nucleus of pericytes, as detected by fluorescence after situ hybridization (pink: circEhmt1; blue: DAPI-labeled nuclei; scale bar: 200 μm). HG-induced endotheliocytes were incubated with hypoxia-pretreated pericyte exosomes, followed by si-NFIA transfection. (c) The levels of NFIA, ETS-1, and NLRP3 protein expression in the above-treated endotheliocytes were examined by western blotting. (d) The concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18 in the above-treated endotheliocytes were determined by ELISA. Data are expressed as a . , compared with control; ^#, compared with HG; ^$, compared with HG + exosomes; (e) CHIP assays revealed that NFIA interacted with the promoter region of NLRP3. (f) Schematic diagram showing the proposed molecular mechanisms.

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