Protective effect of hUC-MSCs regulating peritoneal mesothelial cell EMT through cGAS-STING signaling pathway in high glucose-induced peritoneal fibrosis

Figure 5 Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells suppress high-glucose-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in HMrSV5 cells by inhibiting the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes signaling pathway. A: Representative immunofluorescence images of fibronectin expression in different HMrSV5 groups; B: Quantitative analysis of fibronectin fluorescence intensity; C: Representative images of the wound healing assay; D: Quantitative analysis of cell migration; E-H: TANK-binding kinase 1 mRNA (E); interferon regulatory factor 3 mRNA (F); alpha-smooth muscle actin mRNA (G); transforming growth factor-beta1 mRNA (H) levels detected via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction; I: Representative western blot bands; J-M: Quantitative analysis of protein expression: TANK-binding kinase 1 (J); interferon regulatory factor 3 (K); alpha-smooth muscle actin (L); transforming growth factor-beta1 (M). Data are presented as mean ± SD. ^aP < 0.05 vs high glucose; ^bP < 0.05 vs DMXAA. hUC-MSCs: Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells; HG: High glucose; EMT: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition; cGAS: Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase; STING: Stimulator of interferon genes; TBK1: TANK-binding kinase 1; IRF3: Interferon regulatory factor 3; α-SMA: Alpha-smooth muscle actin; TGF-β1: Transforming growth factor-beta1.