Mir 126 3p antagomir

miR-126-3p agomir and miR-126-3p antagomir were obtained from RiboBio (Guangzhou, China) and transfected into cells using riboFECTTM CP transfection reagent (RiboBio) according to the manufacturer’s protocol. Following an incubation period of 24–48 h, the cells were harvested and functional analysis was performed. Since agomir-miRNA is a chemically modified miRNA mimic, PCR detection methods are unable to directly detect the change in information for the target miRNA. Thus, we tested the transfection efficiency by using a Cy3-labeled miR-126-3p agomir, and visualized the results using a fluorescence microscope.

Rabbit anti-SMA and rat anti-MOMA2 polyclonal antibodies were purchased from Santa Cruz Biotechnology (Dallas, Texas, USA). Rabbit anti-CXCR4, GAPDH, RGS16, VCAM-1, and SM22α polyclonal antibodies and mouse anti-CD31 monoclonal antibody were purchased from Proteintech Group (Chicago, IL, USA). Rabbit anti-CXCL12 polyclonal antibody was purchased from Novus Biologicals (USA). U0126 (a MEK1/2 inhibitor) was purchased from LC Laboratories (Woburn, MA, USA). miR-126-3p antagomir and ERK1/2 siRNA were purchased from Guangzhou Ribobio (Guangzhou, Guangdong, China). Triglyceride (TG) kit, Total cholesterol (TC) kit, High-density lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C) kit and Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) kit were purchased from Medicalsystem Biotechnology Co., Ltd (Ningbo, Zhejiang, China).