Exosomal microRNA-133b-3p from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells inhibits angiogenesis and oxidative stress via FBN1 repression in diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common microvascular complication. Many studies have focused on the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in DR but not specifically on miR-133b-3p. Thus, this study is to unmask the mechanisms of miR-133b-3p in DR. KK/Upj-Ay mice (a spontaneous diabetic nephropathy model of DM, referred to as DR mice) were used in the study, and retinal tissues were collected. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were isolated and identified. High glucose (HG)-treated mouse retinal microvascular endothelial cells (mRMECs) were transfected or co-cultured with BMSCs-derived exosomes. Then, cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and oxidative stress were observed. MiR-133b-3p and FBN1 expression in tissues and cells was detected. MiR-133b-3p expression was reduced, and FBN1 expression was increased in retinal tissues of DR mice and HG-treated mRMECs. Up-regulating miR-133b-3p or down-regulating FBN1 or BMSCs-derived exosomes impaired oxidative stress, angiogenesis, proliferation, migration, and promoted apoptosis of HG-treated mRMECs. This study has elucidated that exosomal miR-133b-3p from BMSCs suppresses angiogenesis and oxidative stress in DR via FBN1 repression.