Figure 1.

Diabetic stress leads to increased levels of m⁶A RNA modification in vitro and in vivo. (A and B) Pericytes were incubated with 25 mM glucose (High glucose, HG) for 24 h and 48 h. The levels of m⁶A RNAs were detected by the colorimetric quantification (A, n = 4, *P < 0.05 versus NG group, 1-way ANOVA, Bonferroni test) or dot blot assays (B, n = 4, *P < 0.05 versus NG group, 1-way ANOVA, Bonferroni test). (C) The levels of m⁶A RNAs were detected by the colorimetric quantification and dot blot assays in pericytes cultured in the medium containing H₂O₂ (200 µM), VEGF (10 ng/mL), IL-6 (20 ng/mL), TNF-α (10 ng/mL) or left untreated (Ctrl) for 24 h and 48 h (n = 4, *P < 0.05 versus Ctrl group, 1-way ANOVA, Bonferroni test). (D and E) Retinal vessels were isolated from diabetic retinas after 1-month, 2-month, 4-month, and 6-month diabetes induction. The levels of m⁶A RNA modification in retinal vessels were detected by the colorimetric quantification (D, n = 6). After 6-month diabetes induction, dot blot assays were performed to detect the change of m⁶A RNA modification in retinal vessels (E, n = 4). *P < 0.05 versus non-DM group; Mann-Whitney U test, Bonferroni test.