Hypertension is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases worldwide, and the vascular remodeling it induces is a key factor in the damage to target organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys.
Recently, Professor Zhu Guoqing’s team from China Pharmaceutical University published significant research findings in the prestigious international journal Journal of Extracellular Vesicles (Impact Factor: 16.0).
The study uncovered new mechanisms in hypertension vascular remodeling and identified potential therapeutic targets.
In this research, Mshot MF53-N inverted fluorescence microscope provided crucial technical support for the cell migration experiments.
01 Research Highlights
For the first time, the team discovered that fibroblasts from the adventitia of spontaneously hypertensive rats release a type of non-vesicular nanoparticle known as “exomeres (EMs).” These exomeres transport osteopontin, which activates downstream integrin αVβ3/FAK/PI3K/AKT pathways, thereby promoting the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).
This process exacerbates vascular remodeling and accelerates the progression of hypertension.
02 Technical Support
The study employed Boyden chamber assays and wound healing assays (scratch assays) to quantitatively assess the migration ability of VSMCs.
The success of the experiments relied heavily on Mshot MF53-N inverted fluorescence microscope, which helped the team capture images of wound healing at 0 hours and 24 hours, allowing them to calculate the migration distance of the cells.
With its high-definition imaging and long working distance, MF53-N enabled the researchers to clearly observe the migration of vascular smooth muscle cells at different time points, providing powerful data support for hypertension vascular remodeling research.
About the MF53-N
Mshot MF53-N is a classic research-grade inverted fluorescence microscope, equipped with long-working-distance, plan-apochromatic, and achromatic objectives, as well as wide-field eyepieces. It offers various observation modes, including brightfield, phase contrast, and fluorescence.
The microscope features a convenient 6-well fluorescence attachment that is easy to replace and detach, and a rotary design for easy switching.
It can observe common fluorescent dyes such as DAPI, FITC, TRITC, Alexa Fluor series, and Cy3 series, making it widely used in fields such as CTC detection, FRET, and cellular immunology.
03 Significance and Outlook
Professor Zhu Guoqing’s team’s research not only revealed the role of exomeres in hypertension vascular remodeling but also provided a theoretical basis for osteopontin as a potential intervention target.
The team found that by intervening in the transport function of exomeres or inhibiting the expression of osteopontin, they could effectively alleviate vascular remodeling and slow the progression of hypertension. This discovery offers a new avenue for hypertension treatment, particularly for precise therapies targeting vascular remodeling.
Mshot MF53-N has played an important role in supporting high-level research through its stable performance and imaging quality, providing essential equipment for advancing scientific progress.
From mechanistic exploration to target validation, and from basic research to clinical applications, this study by the China Pharmaceutical University team demonstrates the vital role of interdisciplinary collaboration and technical support in modern biomedical research.
In the future, Mshot will continue to assist researchers in achieving breakthroughs in the frontier of life sciences.