Endothelial progenitor cells-derived exosomes transfer microRNA-30e-5p to regulate Erastin-induced ferroptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells via the specificity protein 1/adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase axis

Ferroptosis is a kind of cell death triggered by intracellular phospholipid peroxidation. Human umbilical vein blood endothelial progenitor cells-Exosomes (EPCs-Exos) affect ferroptosis. This study sought to explore the mechanism of EPCs-Exos in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) ferroptosis. EPCs-Exos were isolated and identified. HUVECs were treated with Erastin at IC50 concentration. Ferroptosis-related indexes and iron ion content were detected using kits. HUVEC migration and angiogenesis before/after ferroptosis inhibitor treatment were observed by cell scratch and angiogenesis assays. After Erastin induction, HUVECs were transfected with miR-30e-5p mimic, or treated with EPCs-Exos and EPCs-Exos transfected with miR-30e-5p inhibitor. miR-30e-5p expression was detected by RT-qPCR. The binding relationship between miR-30e-5p and specificity protein 1 (SP1) was verified by dual-luciferase assay. SP1 expression was detected by Western blot. HUVECs treated with Erastin and EPCs-Exos were transfected with pcDNA3.1-SP1. Protein levels of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and p-AMPK were detected by Western blot. EPCs-Exos inhibited Erastin-induced HUVEC ferroptosis and endothelial injury. Erastin inhibited miR-30e-5p and EPCs-Exo treatment recovered miR-30e-5p expression. miR-30e-5p was encapsulated in EPCs-Exos. After inhibiting miR-30e-5p in EPCs, the inhibitory effect of EPCs-Exos on HUVEC ferroptosis was attenuated. miR-30e-5p targeted SP1. Overexpression of SP1 partially reversed the effect of EPCs-Exos on improving HUVEC ferroptosis and increasing phosphorylation levels of AMPK. Collectively, EPCs-Exos inhibited Erastin-induced HUVEC ferroptosis by upregulating miR-30e-5p, inhibiting SP1, and activating the AMPK pathway.