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

Figure 5

NLRP3 overexpression reversed the protective effect of circEhmt1 against HG-induced endotheliocyte injury. HG-induced endotheliocytes were cotransfected with circEhmt1 and NLRP3 overexpression plasmids. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to determine the levels of circEhmt1 (a) and NLRP3 (b) in HG-induced endotheliocytes. (c) The effects of NLRP3 on the regulatory of circEhmt1 on HG-induced apoptosis and angiogenesis were assessed by immunofluorescence staining of Bax and the tube formation assay, respectively. (d) The levels of Bax, Bcl-2, NFIA, and NLRP3 protein expression in the above-transfected endotheliocytes were detected by western blotting. (e, f) The concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18 in the above-transfected endotheliocytes were measured by ELISA. Data are expressed as a . , compared with control; ^#, compared with HG + vector; ^$, compared with HG + circEhmt1 + vector.

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