Huvecs

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were purchased from Genechem Company (Shanghai, China). The HUVECs were incubated in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM; Gibco, California, USA) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS; Gibco, California, USA) at 37°C with 95% air and 5% CO₂. This study used a miR-551b-5p mimic and inhibitor to up- and down-regulate miR-551b-5p expression in HUVECs, respectively. A total of 100 nmol/L of a miR-551b-5p mimic (Ribobio, CA, China) was introduced using the riboFECT^™ CP transfection kit (Ribobio, CA, China) according to the manufacturer's protocol.
Similarly, a total of 100 nmol/L of a miR-551b-5p inhibitor (Ribobio, CA, China) was introduced using the riboFECT^™ CP transfection kit (Ribobio, CA, China) according to the manufacturer's protocol.
HUVECs were plated onto collagen-coated plates with silicone elastomer bottoms (Flexcell, Mckeesport, PA, USA). A computer-controlled cyclic stress unit (Flexcell 5100, McKeesport, PA, USA) was used to subject the HUVECs to mechanical stretch for 3 h (60 cycles/min, 15% elongation). Normal HUVECs were negative control (NC) group, HUVECs treated with 15% elongation stimulation were stimulation (ST) group, HUVECs transfected with miR-551b-5p mimic were mimic group, and HUVECs transfected with miR-551b-5p inhibitor were inhibitor group.