Fig. 1

miR-21 expression in HUVECs is increased in oscillating (OG) and high stable glucose (HG) conditions. a miR-21 expression was normalised to RNU6 expression using the comparative Ct method. Experiments were performed in duplicate and repeated 6 times. b To assess the relationship between miR-21 and oxidative stress generation, we demonstrated that in 24 h-cultured HUVECs exposed to normal glucose (5 mmol/L) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂, 500 μM for 6 h), intracellular miR-21 and c extracellular ROS release (measured by EPR instruments); d ROS release in HUVECs, with or without an anti-miR-21 inhibitor, were significantly increased in OG and HG conditions (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively), demonstrating a potential role for miR-21 in oxidative stress. miR-21 relative expression was normalized to U6 levels. One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test. *p < 0.05 vs NG, **p < 0.01 vs NG, ****p < 0.0001 vs NG; ^†p < 0.05 vs OG, ^††p < 0.01 vs OG; ^§§§p < 0.001 and ^§§§§p < 0.0001 vs HG