MiR-126 regulates the effect of mesenchymal stem cell vascular repair on carotid atherosclerosis through MAPK/ERK signaling pathway

Figure 8 The mRNA levels of von Willebrand factor, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and vascular endothelial-cadherin in vascular grafts from the group of mesenchymal stem cell grafts with different modifications were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. A: The mRNA levels of von Willebrand factor; B: The mRNA levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase; C: The mRNA levels of vascular endothelial-cadherin. The results showed that vascular endothelial growth factor significantly increased the mRNA levels of these genes in mesenchymal stem cells. Furthermore, miR-126 mimics enhanced these effects, while miR-126 inhibitors reversed them. This indicates that miR-126 can modulate the expression of endothelial-related genes in mesenchymal stem cells when combined with vascular endothelial growth factor. Data are presented as the mean ± SD, and differences between groups were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. ^aP < 0.01. vWF: von Willebrand factor; eNOS: Endothelial nitric oxide synthase; VE: Vascular endothelial; NC: Negative control; VEGF: Vascular endothelial growth factor.