Research Paper Volume 16, Issue 6 pp 5184—5206

Figure 7. miR-21a-5p enhances macrophage/microglia autophagy and suppresses macrophage/microglia pyroptosis by targeting PELI1. (A) Exosomal miR-21a-5p regulates PELI1 by directly targeting the 3′-UTR; (B) Luciferase report assay was performed to confirm PELI1 is the target gene of miR-21a-5p; (C) The mRNA level of PELI1 in BV2 cells after treatment with miR-21a-5p^OE-Exos and miR-21a-5p^KD-Exos; (D) The protein level of PELI1 in BV2 cells after treatment with miR-21a-5p^OE-Exos and miR-21a-5p^KD-Exos; (E–H) Rescue experiments for miR-21a-5p inhibition were conducted by downregulating PELI1 in macrophage/microglia. BV2 microglia autophagy and pyroptosis were detected by immunofluorescence; (I–L) Rescue experiments for miR-21a-5p overexpression were carried out by the ectopic expression of PELI1 in macrophage/microglia. BV2 microglia autophagy and pyroptosis were detected by immunofluorescence (^*p < 0.05, ^**p < 0.01, ^***p < 0.001).