Fig. 3

NK-Exo-mediated transfer of miR-223 inhibited autophagy by targeting ATG7. a The direct binding of miR-223 to ATG7 3′-UTR was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. ^**P < 0.01 vs. mimic NC. The mRNA (b) and protein (c) levels of ATG7 in LX-2 cells in the groups of Control, TGF-β1, TGF-β1 + PBS, TGF-β1 + NK-Exo, TGF-β1 + NK-Exo-NC, and TGF-β1 + NK-Exo-miR-223I. ^**P < 0.01 vs. Control; ^##P < 0.01 vs. TGF-β1 + PBS; ^&&P < 0.01 vs. TGF-β1 + NK-Exo-NC. The mRNA (d) and protein (e) levels of ATG7 in LX-2 cells transfected with mimic NC, miR-223 mimic, inhibitor NC, and miR-223 inhibitor. ^**P < 0.01 vs. mimic NC; ^##P < 0.01 vs. inhibitor NC. The data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation (n = 3)