Fig. 6

PDK4 was identified as a target gene of miR-148a-3p. a Representative Western blots for PDK4 in MCECs treated with PBS, MCPs-EVs-reagent control (MCPs-EVs-RC, 1 μg/mL) and 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. b Relative intensities of PDK4 and β-actin on Image J analysis. Data in graphs are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 4). Values expressed as ratios of the control group were set to 1. **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001. c The binding sequences of miR-148a-3p on position 655-662 of PDK4 3’UTR. d Luciferase reporter assay was used to assess the binding capacity between miR-148a-3p and PDK4 in MCECs. Data in graphs are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 4). Values expressed as ratios of the NC mimics co-transfected with PDK4 3’UTR plasmid group was set to 1. ***p < 0.001. MCPs, mouse corpus cavernous pericyte; MCECs, mouse cavernous endothelial cells; NC mimics, negative control mimics; ns, not significant