Research Paper Volume 16, Issue 4 pp 3302—3331

Figure 4. ADSC-derived Exos suppressed OS and mitochondrial dysfunction in DN rats. (A, B) The levels of MDA, SOD, GPX, and CAT in the kidney tissues and plasma of rats in each group using ELISA. (C) The expression of Drp1, Fis1, OPA1, and Mfn1 in the kidney tissues of rats in each group using western blotting. (A–C) To explore the effects of ADSC-derived Exos on OS and mitochondrial function in DN, DN rats were subjected to caudal vein injection with Exos (1.6 mg/kg) for eight successive weeks. Rats treated with 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. (D) The expression of miR-204 in ADSC-derived Exos using qRT-PCR. ADSCs without any treatment served as the controls. Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. ^**p < 0.01 vs. Control group. (E) The expression of miR-204 in the kidney tissues of rats in each group using qRT-PCR. To explore the effects of ADSC-derived Exos on miR-204 expression in DN, DN rats were subjected to caudal vein injection with Exos (1.6 mg/kg) for eight successive weeks. Rats treated with same volume of PBS served as controls. Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (n = 6/group). ^**p < 0.01 vs. DN + PBS group. Abbreviations: ADSC: adipose-derived stem cell; Exos: exosomes; OS: oxidative stress; DN: diabetic nephropathy; MDA: malondialdehyde; SOD: superoxide dismutase; GPX: glutathione peroxidase; CAT: catalase; ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; miR-204: microRNA-204; qRT-PCR: quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline.