Fig. 2. STXBP1 inhibition reduces the ability of EV to fuse with other cells.

A The schematic diagram shows the importance of SNARE complex in cell fusion (top). The EV-cell signaling can be blocked by the inhibiting of Stxbp1 (bottom). B, C siRNA targeted against the coding region of the mouse Stxbp1 gene in RAW-Blue™ cells was used. After 72 h, the decreased expression of Stxbp1 mRNA and protein was assessed by RT PCR and Western blot analysis The endogenous GAPDH level was measured as internal control. Statistical analysis employed ordinary one-way ANOVA with a Tukey’s multiple comparisons test (The error bars represent the SEM; n = 3, of different measurements). D Stxbp1 siRNA-treated RAW-Blue™ cells were stimulated with LPS-EVs (isolated from 1 × 10⁶ RAW-Blue™). NF-κB activation in cell supernatants was measured. Negative siRNA and treatment in the absence of siRNA were used as controls. Statistical analysis employed ordinary one-way ANOVA with a Tukey’s multiple comparisons test (The error bars represent the SEM; n = 3, of different measurements).