Effect of inhibition of LncMALAT1 or LncNEAT1 on high glucose-induced mitochondrial ROS levels. (a) Live cells, incubated with MitoSox red and MitoTracker green, were imaged under a Zeiss Apotome at 40× objective. (b) Mean MitoSox intensity, obtained from 30–50 cells, in each incubation condition. (c,d) Transfection efficiency of MALAT1 and NEAT1, as determined by their respective gene transcripts. Each measurement was made in duplicate in 2–3 different cell preparations. NG and HG = Cells in 5 mM or 20 mM d-glucose, MAL-si and NEAT-si = Cells transfected with MALAT1-siRNA or NEAT1-siRNA and incubated in high glucose, SC = Cells transfected with scrambled control RNA and incubated in high glucose, NG/MAL-si and NG/NEA-si = cells transfected with MALAT1-siRNA or NEAT1-siRNA in normal glucose, and L-Gl = Cells incubated in 20 mM l-glucose. * p < 0.05 vs. NG and # p < 0.05 vs. HG.