Research Paper Volume 16, Issue 4 pp 3302—3331

Figure 3. ADSC-derived Exos ameliorate the symptoms of DN in rats. (A) Determination of ADSC-derived Exos taken up by the kidney tissue cells of rats in each group using PKH67 staining. (B–D) The body weights, renal index, and FBG levels of rats in each group. (E) Plasma TC TG, Scr, BUN, UM, and ACR of rats in each group using enzymatic colorimetric assay and ELISA. (F–H) Histopathological examinations in the kidney tissues of rats in each group using HE, Masson, and PAS staining (scale bar = 20 μm). (I) The expression of fibronectin, collagen IV, α-SMA, and TGF-β1 in the kidney tissues of rats in each group using western blotting. (J) Cell apoptosis in the kidney tissues of rats in each group using TUNEL assay (scale bar = 20 μm). To explore the therapeutical effects of ADSC-derived Exos on DN, rats were subjected to caudal vein injection with Exos (1.6 mg/kg) for eight successive weeks. Rats treated with the same volume of PBS served as controls. Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (n = 6/group). ^*p < 0.05 and ^**p < 0.01 vs. DN + PBS group. Abbreviations: ADSC: adipose-derived stem cell; Exos: exosomes; DN: diabetic nephropathy; FBG: fasting blood-glucose; TC: total cholesterol; TG: triglyceride; BUN: blood urea nitrogen; Scr: serum creatinine; UM: urinary microalbumin; ACR: albumin to creatinine ratio; ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; HE: hematoxylin-eosin; PAS: periodic acid-Schiff; α-SMA: alpha-smooth muscle actin; TGF-β1: transforming growth factor beta 1; TUNEL: terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline.