Trimethylamine-N-Oxide Promotes High-Glucose-Induced Dysfunction and NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in Retinal Microvascular Endothelial Cells

Figure 4

TMAO enhances the high-glucose-induced damage to tight junction protein ZO-1 in HRMECs. After 72 h exposure to NG (D-glucose 5.5 mM), OSM (mannitol 24.5 mM and D-glucose 5.5 mM), and HG (D-glucose 30 mM), the fluorescence and protein expression of ZO-1 were displayed (a‐d). Fluorescence images showing ZO-1 expression in HRMECs after treatment with NG, NG + TMAO, HG, and HG + TMAO for 72 h (e, g). Scale, 100 μm. Western blot analysis of ZO-1 expression (f, h). ^∗P<0.05 vs. NG, ^{^} P<0.05 vs. HG, #P<0.05 vs. NG + TMAO, n = 3.

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