Melatonin affects endothelial cells-derived exosomal miRNA expression

The proper response to shear stress involves multiple cell components of the vascular wall including endothelial cells (ECs), smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and the intercellular communications between them. Mounting evidence indicates that retinoid acid receptor-related orphan receptor-α (RORα) mediates many biological activities of melatonin including transactivation of transcriptional factors, and anti-inflammation. In this study we investigated the effect of melatonin on endothelial cells-derived exosomal miRNA expression. We used microarrays to detail the global program of gene expression underlying melatonin treatment and identified distinct classes of dys-regulated genes during this process. Exosomes were isolated and purified from the ECs monoculture supernatants subjected to low shear stress together with or without melatonin treatment for 24 hours. Three replicated samples for each group were performed.