Fig. 4

miR-335-5p silencing in human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hucMSCs) can reduce the effect of hucMSC-exosomes on the epithelial–myofibroblast transdifferentiation (EMT) and inflammation of TGF-β1-induced HK-2 cells. A, B miR-335-5p expression was measured by RT-qPCR in hucMSCs (A) and in hucMSC-exosomes (B) after transfection (n = 3). C miR-335-5p expression was measured by RT-qPCR in TGF-β1-treated HK-2 cells after treatment with 40 μg hucMSC-exosomes from NC inhibitor and miR-335-5p inhibitor groups (n = 3). D The shape of TGF-β1-treated HK-2 cells was detected after treatment with hucMSC-exosomes from NC inhibitor and miR-335-5p inhibitor groups. E The protein levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β were increased whereas the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were decreased in the miR-335-5p inhibitor group of TGF-β1-treated HK-2 cells treated with hucMSC-exosomes from the NC inhibitor and miR-335-5p inhibitor groups (n = 3). F The protein levels of collagen I, collagen III, α-SMA, vimentin, E-cadherin, and N-cadherin in TGF-β1-induced HK-2 cells were measured by western blotting after treatment with hucMSC-exosomes from NC inhibitor and miR-335-5p inhibitor groups (n = 3). G The statistical results of protein expression (*P < 0.05). In all groups, HK-2 cells were treated with TGF-β1 for 24 h and then TGF-β1-induced HK-2 cells were treated one-time 40 µg protein-equivalent of transfected-hucMSC-derived exosomes for 24 h. All statistical analyses were performed by student's t test