Fig. 1.

DVEs are exosomes capable of transferring miRNA to from VSMCs to ECs and contain elevated miR-221/222. A Cryo-electron microscopy was performed to characterize the extracellular vesicles. The bar represents 50 nm. B miR-221/222 content of NVEs and DVEs was measured using real-time qRT-PCR. C VSMCs are able to transfer oligonucleotides to adjacent cells. HuCASMCs were transfected with a fluorescent miR-221 (Texas Red) and miR-222 (FITC) for 4 h. HuCASMCs were then trypsinized, washed repeatedly, and seeded into a transwell chamber seated above huCAECs. After 24 h, the huCAECs were fixed and stained with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). *p < 0.05