Fig. 4.

NAMPT extracellular vesicles (NAMPT-EVs) protect against AAA formation in mouse

(A) The scheme of generating NAMPT extracellular vesicles (NAMPT-EVs).

(B–C) Identification of NAMPT-EVs and control-EVs. Scale bar, 200 μm.

(D) Western-blotting analysis of NAMPT in hPSC-MSCs and EVs. N = 3, p***<0.001.

(E) Immunostaining showing expression of EVs marker (PKH67) and VSMCs marker (Calponin). Scale bar, 10 μm.

(F) Evaluation of the therapeutical effect of NAMPT-EVs on AAA mouse model.

(G) Western-blotting analysis of NAMPT in mouse abdominal aorta tissues. N = 3, p*<0.05; p***<0.001.

(H) NAD⁺ expression levels analysis in mouse aorta tissues. N = 10, p**<0.01; p***<0.001.

(I) The snapshot images of mouse aortas (left). Scale bar, 5 mm. Red arrows showed the phenotype of abdominal aortic aneurysm. The percentage of AAA incidence was quantified. N = 10.

(J) Ultrasound evaluation of maximal aortic diameter of mouse abdominal aortas. Red arrows showed the maximal aortic diameter. Control group (N = 10), AngII group (N = 6), AngII + control-EVs group (N = 8), AngII + NAMPT-EVs group (N = 10), p*<0.05; p***<0.001.

(K) HE staining of mouse abdominal aorta sections. N = 3, p***<0.001. HE, hematoxylin and eosin. Scale bar, 200 μm.

(L–M) Masson staining (L) and EVG staining (M) of mouse abdominal aorta sections. N = 3, p*<0.05; p**<0.01; p***<0.001. NS, no significance. Masson, Masson's trichrome. EVG, elastin van gieson. Scale bar, 100 μm.