Fig. 7

PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK1/2 signalling are involved in hucMSC-exosome-induced VEGF regulation. a Representative image of western blot analysis of ERK and AKT phosphorylation level in HUVECs treated with various concentrations of exosomes (0, 25, 50, and 100 μg/ml). b hucMSC-exosomes increased phosphorylation of AKT and ERK1/2 as measured by western blotting analysis. c Representative image of western blot analysis of ERK and AKT phosphorylation levels in HUVECs treated with hucMSC-exosomes and AKT inhibitor LY294002 and ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059. d AKT inhibitor LY294002 and ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 decreased hucMSC-exosome-induced phosphorylation of AKT and ERK in HUVECs. e Representative image of western blot analysis of VEGF protein expression in HUVECs treated with hucMSC-exosomes and AKT inhibitor LY294002 and ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059. f AKT inhibitor LY294002 and ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 significantly inhibited hucMSC-exosome-induced VEGF protein expression. VEGF siRNA, 100 nM; hucMSC-exosomes, 50 μg/ml; LY294002, 20 μM; PD098059, 20 μM. The results are presented as the mean ± SD, n = 3 for each group. An asterisk represents statistically significant difference compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Number sign represents statistically significant difference compared with the hucMSC-exosome group (P < 0.05)