Figure 5.

mUC-MSC-conditioned medium lacking exosomes abolishes the inhibitory effects of mUC-MSC paracrine on the expression of fibronectin and collagen I. (a) Immunoblotting analysis of fibronectin and collagen I in mesangial cells treated with high glucose, mUC-MSC-conditioned medium, or mUC-MSC-conditioned medium lacking exosomes. The western blotting experiment was repeated independently three times. (b) Relative amounts of protein are normalized to an internal control, β-actin. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. ^∗P < 0.05, ^∗∗P < 0.01, and ^∗∗∗P < 0.001. (c) Immunofluorescence assay determines the effect of mUC-MSC-conditioned medium lacking exosomes on the levels of fibronectin and collagen I. Bar: 100 μm. (d) The intensity of the positive areas in mesangial cells is quantified. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. ^∗P < 0.05, ^∗∗P < 0.01, and ^∗∗∗P < 0.001.