Fig. 4.

Knocking down circ_0002570 inhibited proliferation, migration, tube formation, and pro-inflammatory cytokines release induced by high glucose in hRMECs. hRMECs were treated with normal glucose (NG) or high-glucose (HG) for 48 h after transfection with two specific hsa_circ_0002570 siRNAs (si-circ_0002570-1 and si-circ_0002570-2) or negative control siRNA (si-NC). a The RNA levels of hsa_circ_0002570 in hRMECs were measured by qRT-PCR. n = 3. b cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay. n = 6. c, d Cell migration was assessed using transwell assay and representative images were shown. n = 6. e, f Angiogenesis was evaluated by tube formation assay and representative images of tube-like structures were shown. n = 6. g The protein concentrations of VEGF in the conditional medium of hRMECs were measured by ELISA. n = 6. h–k The protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-8, IL-6, and MCP-1) were evaluated by ELISA assay. n = 6. The data were represented as means ± SD. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01