Fig. 2

MCPs-EVs induces angiogenesis in MCECs through miR-148a-3p. a The mRNA levels of miR-148a-3p decreased in MCPs transfected with miR-148a-3p inhibitor compared to the microRNA control (miRcon). b The mRNA levels of miR-148a-3p decreased in MCPs-EVs isolated from conditioned MCPs after transfected with miR-148a-3p inhibitor compared to the microRNA control (miRcon). c and d The miR-148a-3p mRNA levels (c) and nitrite production (d) in MCECs treated with PBS, MCPs-EVs-regent control (MCPs-EVs-RC, 1 μg/mL), MCPs-EVs-miR-148a-3p inhibitor (MCPs-EVs-miR-148a-3p-i, 1 μg/mL) under normal-glucose (NG) and high-glucose (HG) conditions for 3 days. e Tube-formation assay was performed in MCECs treated with PBS, MCPs-EVs-regent control (MCPs-EVs-RC, 1 μg/mL), MCPs-EVs-miR-148a-3p inhibitor (MCPs-EVs-miR-148a-3p-i, 1 μg/mL) under normal-glucose (NG) and high-glucose (HG) conditions for 3 days; representative images obtained at 18 hours (screen magnification, 40×). f Migration assay was performed in MCECs with the same treatment conditions as for tube formation; representative images were obtained at 24 hours (screen magnification, 40×). g Number of master junctions were quantified using Image J and the results are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 4). h Ratio of cells that migrated into the red-dotted frame were quantified using Image J and the results are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 4). The value expressed as ratios of the NG group was set to 1. **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001. MCPs, mouse corpus cavernous pericyte; MCECs, mouse cavernous endothelial cells; ns, not significant