Research Paper Volume 16, Issue 4 pp 3302—3331

Figure 7. ADSC-derived Exos modified by miR-204 prevent DN progression via downregulating METTL7A expression in HG-induced HK-2 cells. (A, B) The expression of miR-204 and METTL7A in HK-2 cells using qRT-PCR and western blotting. (C, D) HK-2 cell viability (at 24 h) and apoptosis using CCK-8 and flow cytometry, respectively. (E) The levels of MDA, SOD, GPX, and CAT in HK-2 cells using ELISA. Exos were isolated from either miR-204 mimic- or miR NC-transfected ADSCs, which were subsequently co-cultured with HG-induced HK-2 cells for 12 h at the concentration of 100 μg/mL. Furthermore, HG-induced HK-2 cells were partially transected with oe-METTL7A and co-cultured with Exos from miR-204 mimic-transfected ADSCs to ascertain the link between miR-204 and METTL7A in DN. Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. ^##p < 0.01 vs. HG + Exo-miR NC group; ^{^^}p < 0.01 vs. HG + Exo-miR-204 mimic group; ns indicates no significant differences between groups. Abbreviations: ADSC: adipose-derived stem cell; Exos: exosomes; miR-204: microRNA-204; DN: diabetic nephropathy; METTL: methyltransferase-like; HG: high glucose; qRT-PCR: quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction; CCK-8: cell counting kit-8; MDA: malondialdehyde; SOD: superoxide dismutase; GPX: glutathione peroxidase; CAT: catalase; ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.