Extracellular vesicles derived from human amniotic fluid stem cells improve bladder dysfunction in rat model of diabetic atherosclerosis

Figure 5 Relative mRNA expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, transforming growth factor-β1, Smad3, connective tissue growth factor, and fibronectin in the bladder of control and diabetic groups. A-F: Compared with the control group, diabetes mellitus and diabetic atherosclerosis (DMA) bladders showed significant increases in the mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), Smad3, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and fibronectin at 4 weeks and 12 weeks after induction. Compared with the diabetes mellitus and DMA groups, the mRNA expression of TNF-α, TGF-β1, and CTGF in DMA rats treated with human amniotic fluid stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles were significantly decreased at 4 weeks after induction, while the mRNA expression of IL-6 and Smad3 were significantly decreased 12 weeks. ^aP < 0.05 vs normal control (4 weeks and 12 weeks), ^bP < 0.05 vs diabetes mellitus (4 weeks and 12 weeks), ^cP < 0.05 vs diabetic atherosclerosis (4 weeks and 12 weeks). TNF: Tumor necrosis factor; IL: Interleukin; TGF: Transforming growth factor; CTGF: Connective tissue growth factor; DM: Diabetes mellitus; DMA: Diabetic atherosclerosis; hAFSC-EVs: Human amniotic fluid stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles.