Fig. 5

miR-139-3p is an effector of MSC^ATV–EV-mediated macrophage polarization by targeting Stat1 in vitro. A Schematic protocol of isolating MSC^ATV-EV-miR inhibitor and MSC-EV-miR mimic and incubating LPS-pretreated rat BMDMs. B The protein expressions of macrophage M1 marker iNOS and M2 marker Arg1 in the BMDMs as described in A. C Quantification of iNOS and Arg1 expressions in B, n = 3 per group. D qPCR analysis for the mRNA expressions of macrophage markers (M1: iNOS, IL-12, TNF-α; M2: Arg1, IL-10, CD206) in the BMDMs described in A, n = 3–4 per group. E Schematic protocol of miR-139-3p mimics being directly transfected into LPS-pretreated BMDMs. F The protein expressions of macrophage M1 marker iNOS and M2 marker Arg1 in the BMDMs described in E. G Quantification of iNOS and Arg1 expressions in F, n = 3 per group. H qPCR analysis for the mRNA expressions of macrophage markers (M1: iNOS, IL-12, TNF-α; M2: Arg1, IL-10, CD206) in the BMDMs described in E, n = 3–4 per group. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001. I, J The protein expression of Stat1 in rat BMDMs transfected with miR-139-3p mimics or inhibitors, n = 3 per group. K, L The protein expressions of iNOS, Arg1, and phosphorylated Stat1 in BMDMs stimulated with LPS and transfected with miR-139-3p mimics or inhibitors, n = 3 per group. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001. Arg1, arginase 1; ATV, atorvastatin; BMDMs, bone marrow-derived macrophages; EV, extracellular vesicle; IL, interleukin; iNOS, inducible nitric oxide synthase; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; MSCs, mesenchymal stem cells; miR, micro-RNA; qPCR, quantitative polymerase chain reaction; Stat1, signal transducer and activator of transcription 1; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor alpha