miRNA profiling of human saphenous vein pericyte exosomes

Human saphenous vein perciytes (hSVPs) were proved increase angiogenesis in mouse myocardial infarction model by producing and releasing miR-132, which has proangiogenic, prosurvival, and antifibrotic activity. To investigate whether their exosomes have a role in their proangiogenic activity, we examined exosomes secreted by these cells. Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) results indicated the presence of exosome size particles in the preparations. Experiments performed with hypoxic (1% O2) human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) confirmed that the pericyte exosomes had proangiogenic and anti-apoptotic features. To understand the miRNA cargo of these exosomes that is important in their unique properties, we performed a miRNA array for profiling of 752 miRNAs. Human saphenous vein pericyte exosomes were collected from cell media of 3 different donors and their miRNA profile was determined using the miRCURY LNA™ Universal RT microRNA PCR system from Exiqon.