Figure 7.

Lipotoxic HC-exosomal miR27a was the key player in mitochondrial and fibrotic liver injury in MAFLD mice

Different purified exosomes were transplanted into HFD + CCl₄ mice, and the mice were divided into four groups (Exo-mi-CN, Exo-mi-miR, Exo-in-CN, and Exo-in-miR, each group: n = 10). (A) Serum exosomal miR-27a and hepatic PINK1 mRNA were detected via PCR. (B) Mitochondria (shown by red circles) and autophagosomes (shown by yellow arrows) were assessed via TEM. Scale bar, 2 μm (in the Exo-mi-CN and Exo-mi-miR groups). (C and D) The levels of proteins in the PINK1 pathway (PINK1, Parkin, LC3B, and p62), the fibrosis pathway (α-SMA), and the proliferation pathway (cyclin D1 and PCNA) in HFD + CCl₄ mouse livers. (E) α-SMA (red IF) and CD63 (green IF) protein expression in HFD + CCl₄ mice in the Exo-mi-CN and Exo-mi-miR groups was assessed via IF staining. Scale bar, 25 μm. (F) LC3B (red IF) and COX4 (green IF) proteins, α-SMA (red IF) and PINK1 (green IF) proteins, and α-SMA (red IF) and PCNA (green IF) proteins were detected via IF staining. Scale bar, 25 μm. All quantifications are presented as the mean ± SD, and p values were calculated using an unpaired Student's t test. Statistical significance: ∗p < 0.05, compared with HFD + CCl₄ mice in the Exo-mi-CN group.