Fig. 4

hUC-MSCs-EVs carrying IGF-1 activate Nrf2/HO-1 signaling to inhibit CTX-induced excessive autophagy in GCs

A: Western blot evaluated Nrf2 (nuclear), Nrf2 (plasma), and HO-1 protein expression; B: ROS, MDA, and GSH levels were assayed by kits; C: Autophagy-related proteins LC3II/I and Beclin-1 were quantified by western blot; D: Immunofluorescence displayed Nrf2 nuclear translocation and LC3 positive cells. The cellular experiments were independently repeated three times, and the data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. One-way analysis of variance was used for data comparison among multiple groups, followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; and ***, P < 0.001. hUC-MSCs-EV, human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles; IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor 1; GCs, granulosa cells; ROS, reactive oxygen species; MDA, malondialdehyde; GSH, glutathione; Nrf2/HO-1, nuclear factor E2 related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1